Board to examine coaching supplements

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle’s school board is set to examine its coaching supplements at its April 23 meeting.
The results of a coaching supplement study were given to board members April 9 by John Osburn and Marcia Burke, representatives of Burke Enterprises LLC. No action was taken pursuant to the recommendations but Superintendent Dr. Mike Reed said he would have a recommendation for the board’s consideration at its next meeting on April 23.
The purpose of the study was to gather and compare coaching supplement data from other Alabama school districts with Hartselle’s; to interview current Hartselle coaches regarding supplements and duties; and present data and information for system consideration, decision making and planning.
Osburn and Burke conducted personal interviews with all of Hartselle’s coaches except two who were not available at the time interviews were conducted. They also submitted an electronic questionnaire to 58 school systems in classes 4A, 5A and 6A, with demographics similar to Hartselle and requested their participation. Of the total ,19 completed questionnaires were returned.
Of those responding, 26 percent of the systems indicated they did not apply the 2006-07 teacher pay raise to coaching supplements, 16 percent indicated the 2006-07 teacher pay raise was applied to both supplement and days added to the contract, 32 percent to added days only and16 percent to supplement only. Twelve of the 19 systems added days to the contracts of head coaching positions. Most said the number of days varied. The amount of the supplement for head coaching positions ranged from $1,000 to $5,000 or more. Twelve of the 19 systems also added days to the contracts of assistant coaches and supplements None of the systems offered outcome bonuses.
Hartselle coaching supplements alone totaled $269,396 and were valued at $311,516 with added days. They represent about 1.8 percent of the total school operating budget.
Observations noted from interviews with coaches included a high degree of enthusiasm and loyalty, a high degree of parental and community support for athletic events and athletes, concern about varying expectations, time requirements and compensation, concern for future compensations and time requirements for coaches who teach academics all day.
Recommendations were as follows: