Outrage and disbelief echoed through a Copiague school board meeting as community members voiced support for former girls' high school basketball coach Kia Wright, who was recently let go following a trip she took with students earlier this year.

Wright, a Copiague native and standout athlete who once led the high school girls’ basketball team to a state championship in 2003, says she was dismissed for taking players to a St. John’s University basketball game in January. The district labeled the event an “unauthorized field trip,” a classification Wright disputes.

“It was a safe event. They had a good time,” Wright said, defending the outing, which she said took place outside of school hours and was not affiliated with her role as a school coach. According to Wright, the trip was organized through her educational nonprofit, Kwiet Storm, and all students involved had submitted signed permission slips.

“The school took it as a liability on the district,” she said. “But I explained to them, this had everything to do with my business—nothing to do with Copiague.”

The decision to let Wright go sparked a strong response from community members at the meeting, many of whom questioned how such a decorated alumna and role model could be removed from her position.

Wright’s achievements both on and off the court are well known in Suffolk County. Earlier this year, she was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame for her contributions to local athletics.

School officials declined to speak on the matter, citing personnel confidentiality, but one board member noted that coaching positions are assigned on a seasonal basis and are not secured by long-term contracts.