The Knox Community School Corporation is working to increase accountability, when it comes to extracurricular positions.
The 2019-2020 ECA schedule approved by the school board Monday is a little bit different from those of previous years, according to Corporation Treasurer Kasey Clark. For one thing, coaches and other extracurricular leaders generally won’t get paid until the end of the activity or sports season. Clark told board members that there have been issues with uniforms being turned in and people not finishing out what they’ve signed up to do.
When it comes to coaches, Athletic Director Greg Estok will have to sign off that all equipment has been returned, before they get paid, according to Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart. “In the past, when we had a teacher-coach, we put that right into their paycheck on a biweekly basis,” Reichhart explained. “So they would get paid throughout the entire year, and then there was no accountability for them to turn in uniforms. And so Greg felt, along with Kasey, that it would be better to go to this, and [the Knox Federation of Teachers] is fine with this.” However, Reichhart said teachers and coaches who depend on ECA money could be given an exception on a case-by-case basis, noting that it’s a substantial source of income for some of them.
The new schedule also specifies that all ECA positions are contingent upon the number of student participants. For that reason, Reichhart told board members that even though they signed the contracts Monday, they won’t actually be given out until a particular activity begins. “Let’s say that boys basketball only has eight players so they don’t need that third coach, we’ll hold that contract. We’re not going to issue that contract until basketball season, so even though you’re signing it for that person, that person may not coach if there’s not enough players on the boys basketball team,” Reichhart said.
Board Member Wendy McIntire voiced her support for the changes, noting that by keeping better track of equipment, the need for fundraising should decrease.
