FREE CONTENT — School Board tables decision on football coach; sets salary at $91,000

By Paul Keane

The Wayne County News

After allowing two people to speak after being denied earlier in the 
week and an executive/closed session that lasted 38 minutes, Wayne 
County's Board of Education tabled a decision to hire a new head 
football coach Thursday night.

Beat 3 Member Marion Chapman made a motion before the agenda was 
approved to allow Larry Pickens and Karl Rogers to speak to the board. 
Both men had their written requests to address the board was denied by 
Interim Superintendent of Education Lynn Revette.

Chapman also requested to add an executive session to discuss a 
recommendation for the position.

Both motions passed by 5-0 votes.

Rogers said the school district is at a pivotal time right now.

"I've been dealing the school system for 30 years and never been denied 
an opportunity to speak to the Board," he said. "This is a pivotal time 
and we're changing into a new era. We need someone to bring us together.

"If we make the right choice, the people you see here (a much larger 
than normal audience), you will see again. If we make the wrong choice, 
you will never see them again."

Without mentioning any names, Rogers added that the choice should be an 
easy one.

"If you all have enough love and concern for our children, then this is 
an easy choice," he said. "We need to make sure our children succeed so 
they can come back to the community and help others."

Pickens echoed similar sentiments.

"This is about this community," he said. "This is not about wins and 
losses.

"Kids are not going to do right unless they have someone over them that 
they can trust. We have a person who can go into the Cornfield, can 
relate to these kids and can bring the community together."

Rogers then pointed out that the district is at a pivotal time and 
needing more than just a head football coach.

"There is more than one critical position open right now," he said. "We 
are looking for a high school principal, a superintendent and an 
assistant superintendent. All three of those positions come together to 
lead and guide our students."

At 5:37, the Board went into closed session to discuss the 
recommendation that was made, then went into executive session at 5:41 
to discuss personnel. No names of applicants nor recommendations was 
announced.

At least seven members of the audience were wearing t-shirts that said: "We want Tracy 'Pound' Lampley WCHS Head Football Coach."

The Board came out of executive session at 6:15 and then, a little later 
in the agenda set the head coach's salary at $91,000 a year.

When the item to hire a new coach came up, though, the matter was 
tabled. Chapman made the motion to table it with Beat 4 Member Rusty 
Pitts seconding the motion, which passed by a 5-0 vote.

The next regular meeting of the Board is scheduled for Monday, March 23 
at 5 p.m.