Smithville High School basketball coach keeps his job after Green BOE vote

Linda Hall
·3 min read

Green Local Schools Board of Education

Wednesday meeting

KEY ACTION  Voted 4-1 to renew Corey Kaufman's contract as Smithville High School varsity boys basketball coach.

The Green Local school board voted 4-1 Wednesday to renew Corey Kaufman's contract as Smithville High School's boys basketball coach.
The Green Local school board voted 4-1 Wednesday to renew Corey Kaufman's contract as Smithville High School's boys basketball coach.

DISCUSSION  Board member Mike Davis cast the lone no vote at the 7 a.m. meeting.

"I feel that, morally, I can't accept a coach who would be in an altercation with a student," Davis said after the meeting.

June meeting: Purchase of weight room equipment, sale of bus garage in Marshallville approved

Kaufman's coaching contract was up in the air after an April 26 confrontation with a student during an open gym session.

"Last month there was a board decision not to post the basketball position," board President Brent Steiner said in an email explaining the board's renewal of Kaufman's contract.

Members of the Green Local Schools Board of Education are (clockwise from upper left) Randy Brillhart, Brent Steiner, Mike Davis, Brandon Von Almen and Brad Yochheim.
Members of the Green Local Schools Board of Education are (clockwise from upper left) Randy Brillhart, Brent Steiner, Mike Davis, Brandon Von Almen and Brad Yochheim.

"This month was the vote on how to move ahead with Corey as the coach, with an agreement that includes some mentorship and other developmental requirements to assist with positive outcomes for everyone involved," he wrote.

Kaufman must abide by the provisions of the "last chance agreement" he signed, including financial and behavioral stipulations.

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School treasurer explains 'unprecedented' $6M carryover

Community member Jeff Pew addressed the board about what he deemed an unusually high carryover balance of more than $6 million.

"We're in kind of an unprecedented era," Treasurer Erin VanMeter told Pew. "COVID brought up a lot of federal grants.

"In a lot of schools in Ohio right now, cash balances are very high," VanMeter said, adding, "I don't think we are going to stay where we're at over the next couple of years," but probably return to a more typical $2 million carryover balance."

Frank
Frank

OTHER BUSINESS Superintendent Dean Frank and the board also discussed the use of ESSER (Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief funds), which must be expended by 2024.

Frank talked about "the good use of the dollars" for HVAC and other improvements to the Wilbur Berkey Fieldhouse and the weight room. The funds used for personnel to assist in academic improvement and recovery from the impact of COVID can continue to be paid this year.

Going forward, when ESSER funds run out, those expenditures will have to be transferred into the general fund or the positions will have to be eliminated. Frank would like to maintain the positions boosting academic achievement.

FOR YOUR INFO

  • The District bus garage in Marshallville will be auctioned by Gant Realty at a public sale at 6 p.m. Sept. 1.

  • A community fair will be 6-8 p.m. Aug. 18 in the Wilbur Berkey Fieldhouse and on the football field. The public will be able to meet the members of the teams for all fall sports.

  • Frank cited progress being made in the lobby of the Fieldhouse and said the doors will be replaced in the weight room next week. He said air handlers have been a holdup in construction, but their anticipated arrival date should allow for completion of the project in October. Given supply issues, the project has been "pretty smooth," Frank said.

UP NEXT  Meets at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 22 in Wilbur Berkey Fieldhouse, 100 Smithie Drive. A new employee reception is set for 6 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Smithville High basketball coach keeps his job after Green BOE vote