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Board tables countywide athletic director; approves expanded clubs and asks union to revisit stipends and summer hours
Summary
After extended discussion, the board on March 3 voted to table a proposal for a countywide athletic director and approved eight new or expanded student clubs; it directed staff to coordinate with the teachers union on stipend and summer/off-season compensation.
The board considered several consolidation committee recommendations March 3, including creating a countywide athletic director, expanding school clubs at Madison County Central and Madison County High School, and revisiting how stipends and summer/off-season work are compensated.
Countywide athletic director: The consolidation committee recommended a countywide AD who would report to the superintendent, be housed at the high school and oversee athletics for traditional public, charter and homeschool students. The recommendation said the AD could not teach a full load at the high school and that the district would have to staff the missed instructional periods.
Board members debated the proposal at length, raising questions about staffing, seniority and collective-bargaining impacts, and whether existing AD supplements or positions would be consolidated. After discussion the board voted to table the countywide AD recommendation for further clarification; staff said they would seek input from the district'union and legal counsel and planned to revisit the item at the April 7 board meeting.
Expanded clubs and activities: The board approved a package of club recommendations intended to increase participation at Central and provide feeder activities into high school programs. Approved recommendations included adding Student Government Association (SGA) at Central, Future Farmers of America (FFA) with an ag-certified teacher so eighth graders can receive ninth-grade science credit and CTE points, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) (with Mr. Matt Thompson volunteering to start the club at Central), restoring a monthly club day schedule, yearbook/journalism, Florida Future Educators of America (FFEA) at both schools, and exploring civic-organization clubs (Key Club/Interact).
Stipends and off-season pay: The committee also recommended that the district and teachers union revisit how club sponsors and coaches are evaluated for stipends and whether additional compensation is appropriate for off-season or summer activities. The board approved sending topics about minimum sponsor requirements and summer/off-season compensation to the district negotiating team for consideration.
Other notes: The board discussed — but did not act on — a committee suggestion to explore a county half-cent sales tax to fund athletic facility upgrades; board members noted such a tax would require a resolution and referendum and is beyond immediate district control.
Board actions taken on these items: - Motion to table the countywide athletic director recommendation (to allow legal/union review and clarification): approved; board directed staff to return the item April 7. - Motion to accept the expanded club recommendations (eight items): approved 5-0. - Motion to send stipend evaluation and off-season/summer compensation issues to negotiations: approved 5-0.
The board's discussion repeatedly emphasized the need to clarify collective-bargaining impacts, how existing supplements would be adjusted and whether instructional coverage for any AD non-teaching periods would come from existing staff.
