By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
With a 4-2 vote at Monday’s meeting, the USD 431 Board of Education approved a position for a sixth coach for the Hoisington High School football team. With the amount of students and time spent preparing for competition, Hoisington coach Zach Baird presented the request to the board at last month’s meeting.
Board member Julia Debes was in favor of the idea, especially knowing that the additional coach will be paid for through the football activity fund.
"I would like to commend the coaching staff on being very thoughtful and not just making a request," said Debes. "They were responsive to questions, provided additional data and background material. I just want to commend them for having a very thoughtful request, answering all of the questions, providing comparisons and providing hours spent."
Along with Baird, the Hoisington football coaching staff includes Matt Koelsch, Kyle Haxton, Eric Steiner and recently hired Mason Haxton.
Although the new assistant’s pay will not come out of the district’s budget, the board will have final approval on any recommended new hire. The approved request will be probationary, based on a year with reevaluation following the football season.