School board members in Riverbank were expected to vote Tuesday, Aug. 6 on the appointment of Kirk Peterson to the RHS football coaching staff. The issue has been one that has divided the school board, with Peterson’s father Ron, abstaining from the voting and so far, the rest of the panel unable to come up with the three ‘yes’ votes required to put Kirk Peterson on the coaching list.

The younger Peterson wants to join the Bruin staff but two board members, Steve Walker and John Mitchell, have previously voted against bringing the Riverbank native onto the staff. Some say their actions are in retaliation for the vote by fellow board members Ron Peterson, Elizabeth Meza and Egidio ‘Jeep’ Oliveira to cut the benefits package they receive as board members.

The vote was anticipated Tuesday night, after The News went to press. Look for coverage of the meeting, the vote outcome and its impact on the website, theriverbanknews.com.

Kirk Peterson went to Cardozo Middle School, graduated from Turlock High, and played college basketball for San Francisco State University. He holds a credential in Physical/Health Impairments from the University, an English credential from Chapman University and works for the Stanislaus County Office of Education. He led Turlock’s frosh-soph football team to an undefeated league championship and coached the varsity program to playoff appearances in two of the last three seasons as offensive coordinator.

He’s been offered positions on the football staff of four other area teams, but has stayed resolute to a commitment to Bruin coach Jim Oliver and RHS student-athletes by continuing to instruct, without an official position on staff.