School board interviews track coach candidates
By Jane Myhra
Mike Koles clarified the hiring process for the Iola-Scandinavia School District during the Personnel Committee meeting on Feb. 6.
“There seems to be some false understanding of what is happening,” said Koles, who serves as committee chair.
He showed a statement that was posted on the internet and explained how portions of the statement were false.
For instance, when the track head coach position was reposted there was only one applicant. According to Koles, the other applications were for the assistant coach position.
“It was not opened up for just one person,” he said. “We had several inquiries.”
Koles said it is not against school policy for the school board to do the interviews for hiring a coach. He encouraged the public to read the hiring process policies, which are posted on the school website.
According to policy, he said, “the board is involved in the hiring process.”
He noted the role of the administration and athletic director is to make hiring recommendations. Usually the interviews are done by the Personnel Committee, which will then make a recommendation to the board.
For the track coach position, Koles said the school board will be involved except for Board President Kristen Hoyord, who has recused herself for personal reasons.
“There have been threats made to our staff,” Koles said. “When someone threatens our staff, the school board will step in.”
In other business, the committee agreed to recommend hiring four part-time, temporary educational assistants to monitor door access, with two at each of the buildings.
The hours will be from about 7:30-11:30 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on days school is in session. The temporary positions will be for the remainder of the school year, or until an alternate solution for door access can be developed.
The committee also agreed to recommend that the school board accept the resignation of Kira Morrissey from her contract for the musical. According to information presented at the Feb. 6 meeting, the resignation was due to family obligations.
Morrissey’s contract was to share 50 percent of the musical’s responsibility, with Chelsea Liesch responsible for the other 50 percent. The committee will recommend that Morrissey’s 50 percent be covered by Linda Trepasso, 25 percent; Jacob Martin, 12.5 percent; and Heather Lynch, 12.5 percent.
The committee also agreed to recommend that the board accept the resignation of Scott Erickson as assistant track coach.
In his letter of resignation, Erickson stated, “I believe it is in my best interest not to be involved with the track program.”
After the committee went into closed session to conduct head track coach interviews, Hoyord expressed concern with the public’s alleged distrust of the current school board.
“We are doing what is in the best interest for our students in our district,” she told the Waupaca County Post. “I have three children in this district. I would never make a decision that would be harmful to this district.”