Board approves new coaching positions after trustees debate coverage and equity

The Valley View Local Board of Education approved three new coaching positions Aug. 12 after trustees and staff discussed growing team rosters and the district's reliance on volunteers.

Chair presented a motion to add an assistant varsity boys basketball coach, a freshman girls basketball coach (to be hired only if student numbers support a team) and a varsity girls bowling coach. The motion was seconded and approved by roll call.

A board member who spoke about bowling said the program has expanded since the COVID period and now fields multiple squads. "We have been dealing with four teams about seven or eight per team, for the last couple of years, and we've been doing that with two coaches," the board member said, noting difficulties ensuring student supervision and continuity across varsity and junior varsity matches.

A staff member described the boys' basketball situation, saying it is "the only varsity sport that does not have a paid assistant position anywhere in any of our sports," and argued a paid assistant would provide continuity that volunteer coverage has not achieved.

Superintendent Valerie Hovoldt and trustees emphasized the district intends to hire the freshman girls coach only if participant counts meet the threshold. "If there are not numbers to support for a girls team, we wouldn't offer that. We would not hire that position," a representative of administration said during the discussion.

Trustees approved the positions with the understanding hiring for the freshman girls slot is contingent on enrollment; athletics staff were directed to post positions as needed and report back about hires and coverage.