Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Embattled Springfield High Basketball Coach Marques Warfield made his case before District 186 board members at Monday night’s meeting to retain his position so the basketball program can build a successful future for its basketball program.

But, in the end, the District 186 board voted to fire Warfield, on a 5-2 vote.

Warfield said he was not made aware of the IHSA rules regarding the involvement of non-school teams and said he has no control over issues such a school enrollment. He said he has dedicated himself over the past two years to building a program “that emphasizes character, integrity, and passion for the game”.

But he said an undue burden has been placed on him and his coaching staff due to lack of transparency and communication.

A petition in support of keeping Warfield as head coach at Springfield High has been posted at Change.org. The petition says, “We urge the decision-makers to consider the profound impact that Coach Warfield has had on our community and to let him continue his exemplary work with our youth. Sign this petition to help Coach Warfield remain an integral part of Springfield High School and the broader Springfield community”.  As of Monday night, there were 572 signatures out of 750 needed.

In other District 186 business, presentations were made before the board regarding reduction of screen time and cellphone use. Franklin Middle School Teacher Melissa Hostetter proposed not sending Chromebooks home with students in grades K-8. Monique Davis, who’s a speech teacher at Springfield High and Lanphier, said overuse of cellphones are causing anxiety for both students and parents, and called for a “bell-to-bell” enforced policy and the use of lockable yonder bags to hold mobile devices during the school day.

Governor Pritzker says he’ll sign into a law a proposed bill to limit cell phone use during classroom hours.