05-14-03: Controversy swirls around selection of coaches

05-14-03: Controversy swirls around selection of coaches

Basketball coach will return to lead Coldwater High School boys team

By TIMOTHY COX
The Daily Standard

    COLDWATER - Varsity boys basketball head coach Don Vogt will return for a third season after a unanimous vote of school board members Tuesday.
    Board members also hired a new varsity volleyball coach; the position had been vacant since last fall during its meeting. The two coaching contracts were part of a long list of coaching and other supplemental positions that were filled for the next school year.
    Vogt, who had been sharply criticized by at least one district resident at past meetings, said he believes the board's decision shows confidence with the way things are going in the basketball program.
    "I think it's a vote for the basketball program as a whole and the whole school," Vogt said this morning. "Anytime there is a 5-0 vote, they're showing confidence in something."
    There was no public discussion on Vogt's new contract, although board members had met for about an hour in executive session earlier in the meeting to discuss the evening's potential personnel decisions.
    Vogt said the criticisms raised against him in recent weeks seem to have died down lately. He declined to discuss the issue further. Past comments by residents and school officials indicate that some people were upset over the resignation of Vogt's two assistant coaches.
    The district has advertised widely to fill remaining coaching positions, Treasurer Sherry Shaffer said. The basketball assistant coaching positions will be filled based on Vogt's recommendation, Shaffer said. if the athletic director and superintendent also agree, Vogt's candidates for the jobs would be forwarded to the school board for final approval.
    Jeanette Vaughn was hired to fill the vacant volleyball post. Formerly Jeanette Puthoff, she was a star volleyball player for St. Henry in the mid-1990s. Vaughn will not be teaching in the district as part of her duties.
    In other business Tuesday, board members:
    - Approved annual memberships in nine different technical and professional support organizations at a total cost of $8,026.
    - Gave one-year contracts to seventh-grade social studies teacher Tami R. Kramer, special education teacher Donna Fisher, foreign language teacher Ellen Hecht and bus driver Henry Schwieterman.
    - Gave new contracts to varsity wrestling coach Chuck Alig, gymnastics coach Jane Diller, swimming coach Carla Post and half-year mentor Marilyn Tobe.
    - Hired Jeff Kerr and Mike Klock as summer physical education teachers and student workers Brian Boeke, Jason Bruns, Stefanie Borger, Matt Naveau and Angie Harting.
    - Hired Bill and Joan Schwieterman to clean and detail the school bus fleet this summer at a rate of $125 per bus.
    - Set the rental fee for district-owned musical instruments at $25 per year. The old rate was $15.
    - Approved early dismissal for all students on May 29 at 2 p.m.

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