Physical education teacher Judd Eastman was approved as the new varsity boys basketball coach by the North Crawford School Board at their meeting last Thursday.
Eastman, the high school phy ed teacher, will replace longtime boys basketball coach Gary Hines, who has retired as the grade school phy ed teacher in addition to resigning his coaching position.
Eastman was hired in 2010 as the high school physical education teacher to replace Marsha Chestelson, who had retired from the position.
In recommending Eastman to become the new varsity boys basketball coach, North Crawford Athletic Director Dave Bergum explained the background of the situation. Bergum told the board that the junior varsity boys basketball coach, Mike Allbaugh, was asked about his interest in assuming the varsity coaching position and after some consideration indicated that he was not interested in it. In addition to coaching junior varsity basketball, Allbaugh is also the head coach of the cross county team and the boys track team.
While Hines had resigned from the coaching position last month, his decision to retire from his teaching position was announced at the board meeting last Thursday. It was also announced at the meeting that another longtime North Crawford teacher, band director Luke Spicer, had decided to retire at the end of the school year.
North Crawford had already previously received two other coaching resignations this year, when following the end of their respective seasons, Shelly Biggin resigned as the school’s varsity volleyball coach and Dave Bergum resigned as the girls varsity basketball coach. Neither of those positions has been filled. The board also accepted the resignation of cheerleading coach Connie Torgerson at the Thursday night meeting.
In addition to recommending the board approve Eastman as the boys basketball coach, Bergum also discussed the replacement and possible upgrading of the school’s scoreboards in the gyms.
All three scoreboards were damaged recently by an electrical power surge. They will be replaced under the school’s insurance policy, according to Bergum However, the athletic director pointed out that prior to the scoreboards being damaged, the Royal Bank had offered to make a donation toward their replacement. Now, the bank confirmed to Bergum that donation could be used to purchase an upgraded larger scoreboard that would include individual player information like fouls and points scored.
There was some discussion among board members about the appropriateness of using business donations to the athletic department. There was also a discussion of whether the businesses like Royal Bank should have their names prominently displayed on scoreboards or other signs in a sponsorship arrangement.
Board member Michael Bedessem asked whether such donations would be limited to local businesses. Other board members questioned whether donations from bars or other places that serve alcohol would be accepted and there seemed to be some sentiment that they should not be accepted.
At one point, board president Mary Kuhn asked it the district had a policy about business sponsorships and North Crawford District Administrator Dan Davies said there was no such policy.
“We need to develop a policy (about business sponsorships),” Kuhn responded. The policy should determine who would be included and excluded from sponsorships, according to the board president.
The board approved accepting a donation from the Royal Bank to upgrade the scoreboards in the main gym that are being replaced. The motion also included a provision to allow other businesses to make similar donations. The board also approved a motion to develop a policy on business sponsorships.
In other business, the North Crawford School Board:
• approved the summer school program requests as presented
• agreed to continue a 66.030 shared service agreement with Seneca for director of special education services
• declined to continue a 66.030 agreement with the Boscobel School District for library media specialist service
• tabled action on the 2013-14 school calendar until further information could be gathered
• approved Dave Bergum as the summer recreation director
• approved the list of 2013 high school graduates
• donated $600 toward the operation of the Village of Gays Mills Pool, a $100 increases from last year
• approved a CESA #3 contract for hearing services
• approved the non-renewal of a contract for long-term substitute teacher Jennifer Tjoflat
• hired Melinda Christiansen as the school’s speech pathologist
• approved contracting with Southwest Tech for driver education services
• agreed to allow the sale of surplus school items-none of which exceeded $500 in value
• selected local resident Bob Robinson as the person to salvage materials from the replaced chiller units made available in the air conditioning upgrade
