Warrenton‑Hammond board discusses new coaching evaluation policy, debates one‑year reapplication

Board Chair Neal Bond convened the Warrenton‑Hammond School District No. 30 board work session at 6:01 p.m. on April 1 to consider a proposed hiring and evaluation policy for coaches. Directors discussed recruitment, evaluator composition and how accountability would be applied without destabilizing programs.

Director Crystal Green introduced a draft policy and rubric and opposed a provision requiring coaches to reapply every year, saying annual reapplication would undermine program stability and recruitment. Director Crystal Green said the board "cannot support the one‑year reapplication part," arguing that "every district works hard to build programs" and that yearly reapplication could force programs to "cut ties every year."

Director Krystal Pike emphasized practical staffing challenges, noting it is "hard to find coaches, umps refs" and that the district should prioritize what is best for students and program development when designing an evaluation and hiring approach. Board Chair Neal Bond pressed the group to decide whether the board or administration should create and apply any evaluation rubric.

Directors debated who should perform evaluations. Green and others advocated a committee model that could include another coach, administrators and a third party; Green cautioned that board members should not directly evaluate staff, saying "we cannot, as board members, evaluate (staff). That is not our job." Superintendent Trip Goodall told the board that "a healthy eval process is not something that is done in secret," and urged clear, detailed job descriptions and that coaches know evaluation expectations at the start of a season.

Director Mark Simonsen said the district has not consistently completed coach evaluations in the past and argued for an at‑large committee to ensure evaluations occur; Green countered that the board's role is oversight of administration and that the athletic director and other administrators are responsible for carrying out evaluations and following job descriptions.

No formal motion or vote was recorded at the work session. The board asked Board Secretary Andrea Holmstedt to complete the policy revisions and directed Chair Bond to consult district legal counsel; the chair said he hoped to place the revised policy on a future agenda, possibly the following week. The meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.