Central Greene board asked to keep wrestling coach
WAYNESUBRG – Three members of the public asked the Central Greene School Board on Tuesday to consider keeping Todd Sibert on as a varsity wrestling coach. Sibert had served as an assistant varsity wrestling coach last year, according to Superintendent Dr. Jerome Bartley.
Jim Barnhart, who identified himself as a junior high wrestling coach in the McGuffey School District, asked the board to approve Sibert as a volunteer varsity wrestling coach.
“I think you will make a grave mistake if you don’t hire Todd,” he said.
Bartley said the board is examining that position and hasn’t decided whether to fill it this year.
Another man, who didn’t identify himself, said, “[Todd] puts in more time than any coach here. …He’s made some mistakes, but you should give him another chance.”
Resident and former wrestler Bart Wiley also spoke in support of Sibert, noting, “The company of coaches at Waynesburg is highly talked about.”
The board voted unanimously to hire Ron Headlee and Kyle Szewczyk as assistant varsity wrestling coaches, although Bartley noted that head varsity wrestling coach John Yates had recommended Sibert for the position filled by Szewczyk.
After the meeting, Bartley said the board will make a decision on the volunteer coaching position later.
In another matter, Bartley announced that the district has been awarded a $16,000 Alternative Education Grant for Incarcerated Youth for students in the county jail. The amount marks a $4,000 increase over last year’s grant total, he said.
The district also has received a grant of $25,000 per year for the next five years from the National Science Foundation. The money will be used for staff and curriculum development and equipment to develop a database of PSSA and Terra Nova test scores. The faculty and staff will be able to use this information to plan curriculum in all subjects, he said.
The board also conducted the following business:
Accepted letters of resignation from Michael Brink, part-time teacher for the Incarcerated Youth Program at the county jail; Robert Stephenson, assistant varsity football coach, effective at the end of this season; Ron Headlee, head junior high wrestling coach; John Lipscomb, assistant junior high wrestling coach; and Edith Higgins, assistant girls basketball coach.
Created an additional personal-care-assistant position for Waynesburg Central Elementary School.
Approved Matt Brandstetter as volunteer cross-country coach, Zach George as volunteer percussion instructor, Scott Henley as volunteer colorguard designer and Chris McCabe as girls varsity/junior varsity assistant softball coach.
Approved a $76,627 lease agreement between the district and the Intermediate Unit 1 for use of 13 classrooms and five office areas at the former East Franklin School from July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004.