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Salem school board member skips vote to coach soccer

SALEM — School board member Steve Bailey abstained from a vote on athletic supplemental contracts Monday, allowing for him to be appointed as an unpaid volunteer assistant coach with the high school girls soccer team.

A legal opinion released earlier this year allows for school board members to serve as volunteer coaches as long as they don’t vote on any matters dealing with the athletic department, such as voting on individual athletical supplemental contracts. School board members cannot accept paid positions with the district without resigning first.

“This is something that will affect all school boards. It’s not unique to us,” Board President LuAnn Haddad said.

Bailey also abstained on the action naming him as a volunteer coach.

Haddad said it’s a challenge in a district like Salem when you have dedicated and active community members like Bailey who want to volunteer their time. She said they want to take advantage of that, but also follow the rules prescribed by the state.

“We appreciate that he can be a board member and a volunteer coach,” she said.

The opinion released by the Ohio Ethics Commission in January was highlighted in an article last month in the Ohio School Boards Association Journal.

In other business, Mary Beth Shivers, a Salem schools alumnus and teacher, donated a check for $1,525 to the high school library renovation project from what was made on the book she edited titled “Q is for Quaker,” which was written using contributions from students and alumni in 2003.

“What better way to invest the profits than by giving to the library project,” she said.

Haddad thanked her and said “that’s very special to us.”

Superintendent Dr. Joe Shivers, who happens to be Mary Beth’s brother, and board members offered thanks to BOC Water Hydraulics for a $1,000 donation for the purchase of art display boards for the school’s annual art show at the high school May 9. The superintendent also recognized several staff members for Years of Service awards, including two retirees who are leaving after 30 years on the job, bus driver Joan Clark and duty aide and transportation secretary Barbara Eckstein. Shivers had many kinds words for them and those marking long service anniversaries. Recognized for 35 years was Attila Samu and for 25 years were Todd Stokes, Amie Cochran, William Miller Jr. and Mark Geist.

Athletic supplemental contacts approved included: boys basketball head varsity coach Jeff Andres and volunteer assistants George Spack and Will Klucinec; girls basketball head varsity coach Vince Nittoli, varsity assistant Guy Costello, jv head coach Sarah Hamilton, volunteer assistant/youth girls basketball program coordinator Mike Swinhart, volunteer assistant George Spack, eighth grade coach John Bryan and seventh grade coach Sierra Day; boys soccer assistant coach Keaton O’Brien; girls soccer assistant coach Madison Filipiak and volunteer assistant Brad Larson; junior high cheer coach Kendall Austin; middle school faculty manager (athletic director) Dave Stratton; and wrestling head varsity coach Drew Hart, assistant high school Mike Manypenny, volunteer assistant high school Patrick Simpson, head junior high coach Ryan Murgatroyd and assistant junior high Austin Noel.

The board also approved non-athletic supplementals and approved limited contracts for active teaching staff for the new school year 2019-2020. The board eliminated a first grade teaching position and created an additional second grade teaching position, assigning the first grade teacher to the new second grade spot.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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