School Board Looks at New Athletic Policies
October 7, 2008
ECO Staff -- Laure Cioffi, senior journalist
ELLWOOD CITY -- Ellwood City Area School Board members are considering several changes in the district’s athletic policies and programs.
High School Principal Joe Mancini outlined the plans that covered everything from coaches salaries to new student athlete initiatives for board members at Monday’s committee meeting.
Mancini recommended the district create a student athlete advisory board that would meet monthly with the school athletic director and principal monthly to discuss concerns. He said the students would not be permitted to talk about coaches in the meetings.
Mancini also recommended the district base all coaches salaries on a percentage of the first year base salary of a teacher, which is currently $36,200. He suggested that the head coach be paid 20 percent and assistants get a lower percentage. Coaches currently negotiate their own salaries with the district and there is no uniform way they are determined.
Mancini also recommended the district look into turf at Helling Stadium to alleviate some of the maintenance and scheduling issues.
“I know it’s a lot of money, but look at the advantages,” he said noting that baseball and softball teams could use the field in the spring and the youth football leagues will not damage the field.
Some board members questioned the cost which was estimated to be $600,000 to $1 million.
“Technology and this school come first,” School board member Sandy Douglass said.
Mancini said they have already instituted a practice of having all coaches set goals.
“We are not looking at wins and losses, but if they are growing their programs,” he said.
He said they also intend to start student athlete interviews for all graduating seniors as well yearly academic awards for students. The principal said they would like to recognize individuals and teams with the highest grade point averages.
Mancini also provided board members with information about athletic director salaries and benefits from all area school districts to compare.
School board members will be considering the principals recommendations, but did not indicate that any action would be taken at Thursday’s regular meeting.
LeRoy Cortez, school board president, did asked Mancini to create a directive that there be no Sunday practices for any sports.
In other business, school board members conducted job interviews before Monday night’s meeting for a math/technology coach that would be working with district teachers.
Schools Superintendent Frank Aloi said they have money from two grants that would pay the coach’s salary.
(Laure Cioffi can be reached at LaureCioffi@EllwoodCity.org)
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