Body Building Promoters Dispute District's Rationale

The company promoting a body building competition that was barred from disputed claims made by the school district that the contest wasn't allowed over the 2012 summer break because the auditorium was scheduled for painting.

, School Board President Ed Gililland said Superintendent Linda Wagner determined that the West Coast Classic Bodybuilding and Figure contest could not be held at the school because of scheduled renovations.

"The school will be closed for sand blasting and painting during the time this competition will be taking place," Gililland wrote. "She could not approve this use when the campus will be closed."

But Karen Myers, promoter Lonnie Teper's assistant, said in an interview Sunday that Wagner never mentioned renovations as a justification for turning away the contest when she called and denied Teper's application to rent the auditorium. Myers reiterated that the only reason she was given was that Wagner with "scantily clad women."

"She never said anyting about painting," Myers said. "Sounds to me like they’re scrambling to come up with reasons other than the one that caused the uproar."

Myers said she visited the school and auditorium over the summer with school officials and said she was "led to believe that it was practically ready to go." She said school officials were aware during that visit that promoters were looking to rent the auditorium on June 23 and never mentioned any scheduled renovations.

Gililland did not return a call requesting comment on this story. He did not mention the school being closed for renovations on June 23 in an interview with Patch last week.

A resident asked that Wagner's decision be discussed by the school board, and the topic .