Should Palmerton Area school directors have more of a say in the hiring of athletic coaches?

One director believes they should, and went to great lengths to explain why at a board workshop session on Tuesday.Director Sherry Haas questioned why there were no longer any specific board committees, particularly athletics.Haas - who has stated on multiple occasions that she attends various district athletic events - noted that committees existed during her prior term on the board.Board President Barry Scherer told Haas specific committees were eliminated when he joined the board several years back.Scherer said he felt those committee meetings were counterproductive because only a few of the board members were required to attend, which left those that didn't feel "divorced" from the respective issues at hand.Human Resources Director Debra Demyanovich noted that district policy says that board members "should only participate in administrative and teacher hirings."But, Haas said that approach only serves to leave her, as well as other board members, out of the loop."These are things we're totally left out of," Haas said. "We have been known to have bad coaches."However, Scherer told Haas that she, as well as every director, gets to have their say when they vote at a public meeting.Scherer then suggested that the board attempt to tweak the policy after several directors said they would be amenable to such a move.But, Demyanovich cautioned that the policy states the board's specific duty is policy and budget."With regard to athletics, our hands are tied to the teachers contract, because we do have to follow the coaches' contract language," Demyanovich said. "If [a coach] receives a satisfactory rating, they must be allowed to come back for the next season."Haas said she understood, but felt it was only fair that she and other board members be allowed to sit in on the screening process if they're so inclined."I want to be included in the decisions," Haas said. "It should be a whole decision of the board, not one or two people."Director Charles Gildner said he, too, would like to have more information on the respective candidates at his disposal.At that, Scherer polled the board to see if it would like to receive more information when the names of respective candidates who apply for positions within the district are initially revealed.Each of the nine board members said they were in favor of such an approach.Demyanovich said she would be able to accommodate that request.Also on Tuesday, the board heard a presentation from Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit administrators.Dr. Elaine Eib, executive director, along with several of her administrators, discussed the CLIU's budget, as well as I.U. Cyber School.No action was taken by the board on either matter.