McGuffey board approves Chad McGowan as athletic director after 5-3 vote amid debate on qualifications

The McGuffey School District board voted 5-3 to approve the hiring of Chad McGowan as the district's athletic director at a special meeting that began at 5:30 p.m. The appointment is conditioned on receipt of required clearances, medical exams and Act 168 verifications.

Supporters of McGowan, who spoke during the public-comment period, described him as a dedicated site coordinator with six years of experience and urged the board to choose a local candidate. "You only have to have one conversation with him to know. His main priority is the students and the athletic department," said Vicki Jordan, who identified herself as from Buffalo Township and asked members to vote for McGowan.

Board debate focused on whether the role requires direct secondary-level athletic experience or whether transferable managerial skills are sufficient. One board member who read a prepared statement said the district needed an athletic director with athletic administration experience and argued that opposition to the more-experienced candidate amounted to a "political vendetta." The member said: "We only have one candidate that has these qualifications." In response, the board president emphasized that qualifications may include transferable skills beyond athletic coaching and that community feedback about the hiring process must be considered.

Procedural tension also shaped the discussion. Members disputed whether airing comparisons to other candidates (some of which had been discussed in a prior executive session) was appropriate in public. The meeting included a procedural motion to end debate and proceed to a vote; board members were advised that a "no" vote on that motion would allow further debate or a motion to go into executive session. The motion to end debate passed on a roll call.

During the final roll call on the hiring motion, members recorded these votes: Grove, Hoover, Lazier, Garnett and Thomas voted yes; Johnson, Shingle and Burko recorded no votes or asked the minutes to reflect their opposition. A board member asked that the minutes show her "voting no because the hiring of this candidate violates our own job posting, policies [sic], and the PA Ethics Act," and another asked that the minutes note her "not personal" opposition while calling the candidate unqualified. The chair declared the motion passed.

After the vote, a board member introduced Chad McGowan to the room. McGowan thanked supporters and pledged to "exceed all your expectations and my doubters," adding that he looked forward to working with coaches.

The hire is effective pending completion of the district's clearance and medical requirements. The board did not specify an official start date at the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:09 p.m.