John Sanville
saw some hard pitches during his first official at bat in a school board
meeting as superintendent. The issue was the interview process for hiring a new
baseball coach for Unionville High School.
Unionville
Recreation Association President Jeff Friess, of Pocopson Township, said there
was a lack of communication.
“The selection
process made no serious effort to notify the baseball booster club. The community’s voice was not heard. The
school board directors should table the selection of the new baseball coach
until the community stakeholder voices are heard.” he said.
Several other
parents made public comments supporting Friess, who is also the current president
of the Unionville High School Booster club.
The U-CFSD
School Board directors also heard public remarks from Unionville High School
Principal Paula Massanari.
“I spoke with
the athletic director to verify the high schools written policy regarding
selecting coaches was followed and documented before I approved the selection
of the new coach,” Massanari said. “Athletic Director [Joe] Derickson’s
interview panel included a community parent and a former high school baseball
player who graduated in 2011. I
believe the interview process was fair and I know of no ulterior motives.”
Board President
Timotha Trigg said “the Board’s responsibility is to make sure there is an
impartial hiring policy in place and confirm the policy was followed.”
She also
cautioned the board meeting was not the appropriate forum for discussion of the
specific names of members of the baseball coach interview committee which voted
5 – 1 to select Michael Magee as coach.
Board Vice
President Frank Murphy agreed there was a communication breakdown, but said,
“The interview process for the new baseball coach should have been better
communicated with community stakeholders; however the board’s role is not to
micromanage the district administrative staff.”
Board director
Holly Manzone said “I urge people to read the best-selling book “The Wisdom of
the Crowds” authored by James Surowiecki. This fascinating book teaches the
audience is usually right. The numerous concerned baseball family comments
tonight will cause me to vote no at this time regarding the approval of the new
baseball coach’s contract.”
Trigg then
called for a vote on approving the contract for Magee. Directors Murphy, Keith Knauss,
Jeff Hellrung, Eileen Bushelow, Corinne Sweeney and Trigg approved the
contract. Manzone voted no. Directors Paul Price and Jeff Leiser
were absent.
During the
final public comments, Fries summarized his shared concerns.
“Magee is not a
known person. We offer no objection to his qualifications. Our concern is
appropriate information was not provided in advance to the community
stakeholders so we could have endorsed another candidate, who we believed was
qualified.”
Sanville
thanked the concerned parents for attending the board meeting and expressing
their concerns.
“The administration
followed written policy, however community stakeholder opinions should have
been considered,” Sanville said. “We will review the written policy to make
sure the community is better informed in advance of future hiring of sports
team coaches.”
Other business
Sanville
announced the Oct. 10, 6 p.m. Finance Committee meeting will review district
goals for the 2011 – 2012 school year. One of the discussion topics will be
“should there be a discussion regarding including utilization of district
elementary schools as a goal.
In response to
a request for clarification, Sanville said, “Building utilization is the
proposed discussion topic. There is no goal at this time to reconfigure the
elementary schools. My comment is to welcome the public to attend the Oct. 10
meeting so there is no concern regarding hidden agenda or lack of
transparency.”
Sanville said
he invites the public to attend the Oct. 10 meeting at the district office
meeting room to offer their remarks on this potential discussion topic.
About Jim Phreaner
After 41 years of auditing large NYSE global corporations, former IRS Agent Jim Phreaner was looking for a project in retirement with fewer regulations and more people. He joined the staff at Chadds Ford Live more than a year ago. James Edward “Jim” Phreaner, 64, died suddenly in his Birmingham Township home on Dec.17, 2012. Jim was a devoted husband, son, father, friend, and neighbor.
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Let’s take a guess? Why would the UHS baseball booster club want a say in who the new baseball coach is? isn’t it obvious–to insure it is someone who will play favorites and not objectively evaluate all players, especially those who might not have been on the team before and were turned away? Perhaps Mr. Friese should devote as much energy to his presidency of URA to insure that THAT baseball program is run objectively with an emphasis on teaching and instruction that is paramount to a recreational league. Rather, there is an emphasis on tournament ball and particular attention being paid to the supposedly best players rather than all players….and the insular rather than inclusive process that determines who is “best.” Not to mention a total disregard for sportsmanship at the highest levels of the baseball hierarchy. When is a coach allowed to drop the “F” bomb in front of their players and continue to serve as a tournament team coach? When is a player allowed to taunt an opposing player or to cry and stomp around and throw his helmet with no consequences because his father is a coach? Is this similar to what the mindset is at UHS? Is it any different? Make sure someone close to your player is the coach–like his dad, uncle, neighbor–and your player will receive special treatment. Someone who is an unknown quantity as a coach isn’t a bad precedent. Maybe it’s a fair one. The process was followed. Live with it and support the new coach. Leave your ulterior motives at home. Booster clubs support, not dictate.