McNeil: 'My vote was a signal of my growing frustration'
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The "no" vote of a school board member against a superintendent's recommendation is a challenge to the way of "doing business" or the results that we are getting in a particular program.
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In the case of my recent vote in the hiring of a football coach, my vote was a signal of my growing frustration that we as a district are not where I think we should be in terms of being open to the community in showing the real costs of what it takes to bring a football coach to this district (or any other experienced coach) and how we continue to promote one extracurricular program to the detriment and development of others. These are issues that I am told are being addressed by the administration but not to my satisfaction at this time.
First, let me say that I have nothing against the selected football coach. I wish him all the best. There were many well-meaning individuals involved in the recommendation to the superintendent. Thank you for the work you did.
Could there have been a more diverse pool of candidates? Maybe. Could there have been others who might have had other questions for candidates? Maybe. Would the results have been different? Maybe.
Yes, the process does matter to me as a school board member, to make sure that those involved are asking the critical questions. It helps ensure that we want and succeed in hiring a great coach for our students. However, the critical question for me is if we have a new staff member who is a role model for our young people? First and foremost, the hiring of a staff member for the high school is for improving academics for the students they teach as well as the ones they coach. I will continue to ask that this teacher, along with all others, be evaluated on his success in the classroom as well as the playing field. This is one of the reasons why our district does not allow administrators to coach.
Secondly, there are school supplemental contracts for coaches. The Ohio Ethics Commission just ruled that coaches could not be paid by Boosters or anyone else if they are working for the district in this capacity. Maybe this contract is not enough to attract a quality candidate and adequately compensate an individual for the time they spend. Is it right to pay a football coach more than a girls' basketball coach. What kind of experience counts? What are we willing and able to afford to have a successful program (and I don't mean just winning games).
Thirdly, bringing an experienced educator into the district is more costly than hiring a recent graduate. If this experience translates into a more effective teacher in the classroom, terrific. However, there should not be an exception made for the football coach over, say, the hiring of a new softball coach.
And why is it that the football coach can bring in several assistants? Are these assistants hired as the educators we want for all students or to coach football? We are fortunate to have many talented staff and community volunteers to help the new football coach, and I hope they will be asked by this coach to have a strong program to continue Middie tradition and add to the spirit of MHS. It is not just "his" program. It is community involvement that will make the program the best.
Lastly, the additional supplemental contract for weight lifting is not just for the football program. How can a full-time teacher with one supplemental for football coaching do this job as well? The management of these fitness facilities is for all students and is a job in itself. As more MHS girls get involved in sports, this is a very sensitive and critical issue. The leadership of the administration to address what needs to be done for equitable and adequate sports programs for more students and diverse students, is imperative.
This is the message I am writing in my own words and is involved in my recent "no" vote. Thank you to those who have asked me. I try to be thoughtful in my school board deliberations. Just ask me when I have time to collect my thoughts in a positive, constructive way, and not when I am tired of having business done the same old way.
For over 12 years as your school board member, I have not been afraid to speak out for promoting and providing opportunities for all students, in and out of the classroom. My continued thanks go to the voters of Middletown for their support and belief that extracurricular programs are important for our youth. Our school administration must be challenged to continue to develop strong programs for more students with many different abilities, so we all understand the costs and be satisfied with the results in the classroom and on the playing fields.
Katie McNeil
Vice president
Middletown Board
of Education
