High school supervision in place

Administrators assured the Fairfield Community School District Board of Directors there will be supervision of high school events this year even if some administrators are following their own children?s activities in other school districts.

Superintendent Don Achelpohl reported after hearing rumors there will not be adequate supervision by staff at high school sports, drama, music and other activities, he wanted to assure the board events will be covered. He said community members were concerned new high school principal Art Sathoff coming from Pekin schools and new activities director Bret Moews coming from Van Buren schools would be too involved following their children?s activities at their schools.

During the hiring process for a new high school principal, Fairfield school board members said Sathoff could be a volunteer coach for the Pekin Panthers boys? basketball team and attend his children?s school events, said board president Gail Miller.

?But we want to suppress rumors of leaving at 3 p.m. every day,? said board member Doug Flournoy.

?I never intended to leave early to go to practices,? Sathoff said. ?If anyone knows me, they know I won?t do that.?

Sathoff explained he has a personal investment in the Pekin boys basketball program not only because his son is on the team, but also because he helped build the team into what it is today. Although he doesn?t want to see the program deteriorate, he assured the board ?I take my professional responsibility seriously ? this is how I provide for my family.?

Moews told the board his son wrestles with the Van Buren team, but he is not a volunteer coach, only a spectator.

?I take my job seriously,? he said.

?This is about family,? said board member Margaret Dwyer. ?These administrators have been hired by the district. They work for the district, and we have no problem with them putting their family first.?

Board member Jeri Kunkle pointed out Fairfield Middle School principal Mike Dailey would probably like to help coach the football team when his son is old enough to play.

?We have told him ?no,?? said Miller because according to district policy, administrators can?t be in paid coaching positions.

?But we?ve never said you can?t volunteer,? said Flournoy,

Board member Sheila Clements said high school students have concerns that their new principal and activities director aren?t Trojans.

Moews said when he attended a recent baseball game between Fairfield and Van Buren, he wore a Trojan jacket and a Van Buren Warrior hat.

?I supported both sides,? he said.

For the complete article, see the Thursday, July 16, 2009, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.