![[Greene County Daily World]](http://gcdailyworld.com/images/nameplate-small.png){kind=small}
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Read comments (46)During the meeting, the board hired Charlie Karazsia as an administrative assistant for athletics pending his letter of retirement.
Karazsia is currently the high school health teacher as well as the athletic director. He intends on retiring from both positions at the end of the school year in order to take on the new position.
"I'm looking forward to another phase in my life," Karazsia explained, noting the opportunity to still be involved at the school.
He has taught at the school for 32 years.
After the meeting, Superintendent Ron Bush explained, "This is a position that he is qualified for."
Karazsia meets all the requirements of the new position, he added. As the administrative assistant for athletics he will work with the athletic department in grades 7- 12.
The school will not fill the athletic director's position because the newly-created one takes its place, Bush said.
In other business, the board approved football coaches and assistants for the 2008-09 school year.
In a 4-1 vote, Steve Weber was approved as head football coach.
School Board Member Rodney Bredeweg voted against hiring Weber for the position. But after the meeting, Bredeweg had no comment about his vote.
In other maters, the board also approved Mike Hayden as first assistant football coach, Mark Gennicks as second assistant football coach, Brian Oliver as third assistant coach and Joe Lorig as fourth assistant football coach.
Joe Hayden and Larry Simmons were also approved as volunteer football assistant coaches.
The board also hired Brianne Perigo as assistant coach for girl's track.
See Wednesday's edition of the Greene County Daily World for further details on the school board meeting.
minermama I don't believe challenging flawed logic is "bashing". I love home football games and couldn't imagine LHS without them; that was NEVER my point. My point is WHERE IS THE BALANCE in focus at LHS? With the "trimming" of the arts program I'd say the administration and school board need glasses. As the old saying goes, "If you think the arts aren't important, imagine a world without them". This administration has proved, on more than one occasion, that the arts are NOT important to the power brokers and the board of education. LHS is the only school in Greene County without High School art classes. Is this the kind of leading we want to be known for? The money and numbers argument is worn out. If you can create new positions then you can fund the arts period!
Shame on the LHS board and administration for being so short sighted and neglectful of their student body and the culture of this great country of ours.
Brick walls are good....
much better than one built from wood.
No one is bashing football. Well, I'm not anyway. Just trying to put things in perspective. I think our educational and community priorities may be a wee bit out of order, but I respect the opinion that all is well. Don't understand it, but so be it.
I never had an employer ask me if I played football. Not at hiring, promotion, pay increase, not ever. I went to an Ivy League University. We had a football team, but no athletic scholarships. A great University, not so great football team. Not unlike IU, that does have football scholarships. My point is: you never know where greatness is going to be originated. Football, music, art, math, science, etc., etc. Never, never,
punish one arena of human endeavor to benefit another. Only fools dare to go there.
Bash, bash, bash... that is all we want to do is bash. Think of something positive for a change! I feel BOTH the arts and sports are important to all children. Art isn't just about drawing on a piece of paper. Sports isn't just about winning. Did anyone ever think that sports were a form of art or that art is a sport? Think about it... both are challenging, both are creative outlets, both can push one to the limit. I live not far from the school and there is nothing I enjoy more than seeing the sky lit up on Friday nights from all the "Friday Night Lights" or seeing a "packed field" of fans supporting the football team when I am able to attend a game! I don't care about the money that is generated, maybe I should. I care about the kids and love the excitement of the players and the fans and that good ol' school spirit! Seems like when Linton is winning, everyone is at the game bragging about how great things are. Why can't we keep it up? Also, think about how this "bashing" is effecting the kids. They are proud of their accomplishments and have worked hard to get there. They are learning skills and discipline. Why take that away from them? When there is local art exhibits and contests, how many of us go out and support those that worked hard on their project? I doubt the attendance is equal. Art is gone at LHS. Will it come back? Only God knows. Want art to return to the area? Find something, somewhere, to get it back! Work together and beautify our city. Upset about the "pay" coaches are getting? Volunteer YOUR time to coach the kids and put up with some of the parents and see how you feel about YOUR pay. THAT will get your creative juices flowing!
Although I feel as if I'm talking to the proverbial brick wall I'll post this response.
America, please define "working harder". As I'm a professional artist I surely wouldn't know anything about that. Do you mean using your brain is not work? You'll excuse me but isn't that what we are suppose to do in SCHOOL? Being that, in your opinion, we need to prove the worth of art classes maybe you could elaborate on how there has not been a single professional football player come from LHS and there have been several arts professionals come from LHS yet we cut art? Seems like all that money and hard work is wasted if it all ends at the doors of the high school.
...also the baseball diamond looks awesome! Coach Burns does an absolutely INCREDIBLE job preparing that field for battle.
If he does half as good of a job coaching the kids as he is doing on field upkeep then he in producing some outstanding individuals for our community.
Good Luck in 08. Go get 'em Miners!
I am late to get into this, but here is my 2 cents anyway:
1. I love Charlie, Nick, Burns, and Weber. They are all winners and infatiqable(?) competitors. Definitely superior human beings!
2. We have one of the premier athletic programs in this part of the state. What else in this town is performing at such high levels. Lets not tear it down.
3. Maybe if we could score art skills like in a SAT or District championship type thing it would be more valuable to have.
4. We should be supporting students who achieve athletically and acedemically at the same time. They work twice as hard as the average "art student" and bring way more revenue and accolades to our town.
That and 50 cents might get you a phone call.....
What is the beef with the coach? Is it that people (kids, parents, others) don't like him for personal reasons? Good and bad coaches all have those who would prefer they were gone. From what I can tell, he and his Miners have had much success.
The football team nor any other athletic team has anything to do with the arts department getting dumped. Art is wonderful (not for me, I was terrible) and should be supported if the interest is there. I would love to know the number of kids who are disappointed by this.
I really think if the kids had a problem with the coach they woudln't play. I know another sport which a lot of kids love, won't play because they don't like the coach.
I think what should be pointed out is not how much the school pays the coaches but the overall cost to build and maintain the athletic fields, ball diamonds, bleachers and gymnasium, transportation costs for the teams to travel to other schools, etc. etc. If you start adding in the cost of these items you would have enough money to hire an assistant teacher for every class and enough left over for after school tutors.
I doubt anyone begrudges the kids a chance to play and compete but do we really need $300,000 bleachers or a manicured field to do it on. I am not against hiring a PE and athletic director but if you want paid coaches and transportation then the teams need to fund raise to pay for these things.
'Weber might not be the perfect coach, but he must be doing something right; look at how many kids choose to be on the team year after year. If they didn't like him, they wouldn't play, which is exactly what happened with the basketball team a few years back.'
I know a lot of kids who are not big fans of the football coach. They play because they love the sport. And they obviously play to win. Those kids win those games, not the coaches.
Just my thought.
Weber might not be the perfect coach, but he must be doing something right; look at how many kids choose to be on the team year after year. If they didn't like him, they wouldn't play, which is exactly what happened with the basketball team a few years back.
As far as the art, yes, there should be actual art classes. I don't care if there are 5 students in a class, those 5 students deserve to pursue art if they choose to. (although when I was a student there just a few years back, there were MANY students in art, so explain that one).
Cardinalsfan02 I could not agree more. So many school board member want to hide behind the personnel issue, when examples like this prove that the voters who elect the board members into office have a right to know why this person does not feel that coach Weber should be mentoring these kids on the football field.
I do not agree with Mr. Bredeweg, but I at least respect him for doing what I know the other school board members want to do. They just don't have it in them to get rid of a guy who wins football games.
I bet if you asked coach Weber he would say the same thing.
Greenee, why not privatise sports? How can we send our kids to a liberal arts college when Linton High School doesn't supply a liberal arts education??
"1. The art program was cut just like the Ag program, because students weren't singing up for the classes!! When you only have average of 5 students per class. It is hard to justify keeping a program that only has such few students signing up. The art program is student driven just like all elective classes."
No it wasn't. The art program was NOT canceled due to lack of interest. That is a LIE. The proof is in the pudding. My son was in art class the year that art was pulled and there was wall-to--wall kids. I refuse to take the administration's word for it when I know better and so do several other people who don't have the freedom to say so!! I have no problem with Charlie. I *do* take issue with an administration who isn't honest about why programs are canceled.
The High School is involved in the School Improvement Program. One of the things those of us on the Community Support team will be looking into is how to help with funding for things that students and parents want, along with funding for continuing legal education for the faculty.
It does not have to be an either/or situation as someone said, for sports vs. liberal arts courses. We can all work together and help to find the funding via grants and other mechanisms to help the school with funding.
Let's stop arguing about how much this or that is costing when sports is honestly as important to healthy development as is music, art, literature, and the like. Well-rounded students (who make well-rounded adults) have the opportunity to experience all of those. Perhaps there are ways to supplement their education by offering ART CLASSES, for example, at the Youth Center at the Conservation Club, should people decide to support that project.
We are going to look for creative ways to help and to put our efforts into funding the things that are suffering financially now. Let's work together.
I was the first to post here and I have NO problem with Coach Weber, his coaching staff or Charlie Karazsia....I think they are doing a great job....I DO have a problem with ONE board member voting no and not expressing why he voted no......He was elected by the people and he should have to explain his views to the people
It is amazing to me how blind some are towards athletics. My guess is not one person on here complaining were ever athletes and if they were I apologize for that comment.
I have been out of school a long time now and if the recent years were any indication as to the way it was whenever I was in hs the art classes did have much interest as lets say football or even golf for that matter.
Is cutting the art and ag classes right? I don't know, but I do know that any sport whether it be football or baseball or softball is extraciricular and any student has the right to or not to join so bashing the coaches is just not fair. As someone stated below these coaches put in hours that in reality should grant them more money, but most take on this job as not only a love of the sport but for the love of the kids. Just as music and art teachers do for the kids that wish to do that.
Finally for the few of you on here that do not support Coach Weber but thinks that Mr. Bredeweg should state why he voted no, what exactly are you reasons for not supporting him?
Of all schools to cut their art program.Get a grip LHS. There are just as many kids who would be involved in art as in football.What's your excuse this year??
I don't claim to know alot about football, but 4 paid coaches does seem excessive. Why do other sports not have that many coaches?
Hey - I married one of those Minor football players! As far as I'm concerned, he did very well with his life. By the way - he also is involved in music. It doesn't have to be one or the other - sports, arts or music. Both of our kids are still currently involved in music and they were also high school football players. Sorry, but they never got into art. However, 2 outa 3 ain't bad! Kids need to have something to be interested in whether it be sports, arts or music. Kids have a funny way of mimmicking their parents.......ALL extra curricular activities they are interested in should have our support!
Isn't it a shame that our children suffer for the sake of football. Put the money spent for assistant football coaches into education. If these men really want to coach they will do it for free .... if not then their are plenty of ordinary people in our community that will gladly step up.
yes its sad to loose art and i wish there were more choices but you can only have so many i hate there is no ffa or ag class. in ag i learned to put up fence, weld, build a barn also hydralics and nuematics working on tractors, judge good and bad soil judge what cow or pig is better plus a lot more thats alot for 1 class and its gone but its not footbll fault i played all sports and by far football is the bread winner i love track and we were verry good in the 80,s but i bet they never made over 100 bucks at a meet so you cry babies that dont like football move there are only 2 schools in greene county that has football so it should be easy to find one without it
I think it is pretty obvious why someone wouldn't vote for Weber. If you get involved in the practices and games, it is very, very ovbious.
I had not been downtown for a couple of hours, but after reading some of the responses I had to venture out to view for myself the profound economic impact of the football programs 5-6 home games. It is absolutely astounding. The resurgence of the local hospitality industry is beyond belief. I just can't find the words to describe the boom we are experiencing. How are we ever going to handle the influx of Division I and NFL recruiters? Not to mention the overwhelming demand for dinner reservations and overnight accomodations for football game weekends. We are in one difficult position. So much economic growth and so few ways to dispose of it. What are we going to do with all of that money?
GCC if you honestly think the art position being cut at LHS was for financial reasons you need check the facts carefully yourself!!
Maybe someone can enlighten me, but aren't some of the school board members related to some of the school staff??? It would appear to me that if this is true wouldn't this be a conflict of interest? Also, what good is it to attend a school board meeting when they generally already have a decision made?
it is the same coaching staff as before and it has been for several years now. so I really don't get the surprise. bredeweg has had a 'beef' with weber for a couple of years now. again no surprise he would not vote for him.
the arts program is important but, no matter what the kids are offered it is never enough. and I am saying that as a parent. no matter what the schools offer it is just human nature to wish they would offer...... you also have to have the interest and in my experience in art class it was full of kids that were taking the class for an easy grade, they didn't take it seriously and they just made the art teachers job harder and made the class not enjoyable for the kids that really wanted to be there. so is that really money spent well? I don't think so.
It is what it is. If people don't like it they need to go to the school board meetings, they need to vote in the elections and they need to get involved. Nagging here doesn't change anything.
If either side wants to get something accomplished, go to a school board meeting and express your opinion as an individual or group.
It isn't a waste of time to post because it stimulates conversation....but you have to go to the source to get results.
Instead of pretending you know something about school finance...actually look it up! The athletic fund is separate from the funds that pay for teachers. You can't pay a teacher out of athletic funds anymore than a coach can be paid out of funds meant for teachers.
I played for the Miners. I have a bachelors degree and I am working on a Masters. I teach and work with kids on a daily basis. What do you do?
4 star school? Do you even know what that means? Or is it just something to throw out in an argument to give some credibility to your statements. Yes, 4-star is nice, but many schools that could qualify don't want to because of the hoops that a school has to jump through...maybe they would rather use that time being a good school, rather than having someone pat them on the back.
Should Linton have Art? Definately, but schools are in a financial crunch, and they were forced to make tough decisions. Maybe you would be better served writing you state representatives, and pay attention to who you vote for.
I am a full supporter of the arts, make a living playing music, and think it's a sad shame that the arts suffer when things get cut in schools. I also think people should realize these coaches are certainly not raking in the big bucks, and put in a huge amount of time and effort for a it. You can bet the 4-star schools pay their athletic coaches very well. Also, as it has been said...football home game revenue supports itself and helps offset other program losses. You also have other groups who earn their funds through selling things at the games. It is also a huge community even that brings revenue to businesses in Linton as well. It's easy to jump on the wagon and point blame and spit fire at the biggest dog on the block...but I think it's a mistake to do so. There has to be a way to fund the arts program...perhaps some folks with deep pockets could donate to the program? But realistically, you can't knock what brings in the money, and knocking the coaches for what is paultry pay for what they do is wrong as well. Eliminate football and see what else gets cut.
"Guess where they get to perform?"
4th of July parade outside, winter concert in the auditeria (that the school can't seem to afford to air condition for 2 extra hours), tri-county band festival at WRV, basketball games in the gymnasium, state band contest at Northview, spring concert in the auditeria. Football halftime is only one performance of the bunch.
Football has been way over-emphasized for as long as I can remember. Why does football *need* 5 paid coaches anyway?
Another note: Linton High School has the BEST marching band and dance squad in the county! Guess where they get to perform? At half-time of the MINER football games!
* it was asked earlier how much the coaches got paid. This is a ROUGH estimate, but anyone can find out-it's public knowledge. Head coach gets approx $5,000 a year to coach football (considering it's a year round job..he might make min. wage) the asssitants might make $1000-$2000 each. For the sake of argument, let's say they all make $3,000 each. 5x $3,000 = $15,000 plus head coach $5,000 = $20,000 a year and I've been generous with the assistants pay. IF the football program had anything to do with the classes at LHS (WHICH IT DOESN'T) do you think you can get a full time art teacher for $20,000 a year?
As a former Lintonian, I am glad I moved my children to a 4 star school who focuses on what a school is supposed to.. EDUCATION! Everything I ever needed to know I did not learn on a football field.
Stop the football program bashing! The LHS football program is the biggest revenue generator for the school. Without the football program, I would think that a lot of the other smaller sports team would suffer. Yes, there should be an art department at the school, but the football program has nothing to do with the classes offered at LHS. Yes the coaches get paid, but if you totaled up all 5 coaches salaries it wouldn't equal half a year's pay for an art teacher. The bottom line is that the football program isn't costing the school it's art program.
How much money do you people think football brings into the school a year? Does anybody know how much the assistant coaches are making?
I would like to do a poll on where all of the past Linton Miner football players are today, and where all of the past art/music students are. I bet the people who were into the arts went further. Just an opinion, but I do not think that I would be surprised with the poll results.
dont u all no thet feetball is mor importent then lernin or artsee fartsee stuff gro up and git a life
Five paid football coaching positions, and no art department. I hope i read that wrong, no community would allow that would they?
Seems like the football/sports is a big deal because it also gives adults around here something to do on Friday nights-or whenever the game might be. If your sports addicted, what better school program then a sport to go watch locally. It seems to have created a great imbalance in what is available to alls students to enjoy participating in. Or are their girls on this team?
Now that we have the football team all set; how many first, second, third, and fourth assistant mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc. teachers are we going to hire for next year? One art teacher would not be out of line in view of the well endowed athletics department either. Perhaps the school board should reconsider their priorities. Football has been seriously over emphasized.
cardinalsfan02- haven't you caught onto how things happen all over this county yet?? In some people eyes a personal problem IS a legitimate reason!
I would like to know the reason also behind the no vote from Bredeweg because I have to agree with him.
I also find it hard to understand how we need all those paid coaches when supposedly we don't have the funds for other school items/programs. I sure hope no one asks for higher taxes just to pay for something else for school after this is published!!!!
I agree 100%. Why do we need another paid coach ? This school completely revolves around the football team. There are alot more thing this school should be putting it money into, not just football. This school has done away with the art department completely. WHY? Beacause they say they do not have the money. But they sure do have the money to put into the football team. Imagine that!!!! I think personally doing away with the art program was a very stupid thing to do.
Funny how people are willing to vote against someone who is a teacher and coach in the corporation, but then won't say why.....makes you wonder if it's a legitimate reason or just a personal problem? The least board members can do is explain their votes to the people that elected them.