The West Central Valley School Board met Wednesday night.

In a continuation of a conversation from last month, the Board discussed the contract of 19-year veteran assistant girls basketball coach Bob Hasty. Earlier this spring, Hasty says he was notified via text that he no longer had his job, due to the amount of girls basketball coaches being reduced from three to two, due to a decrease in student-athlete participation, despite Hasty having much more experience than the assistant replacing him, who happens to be a teacher. Hasty is not a teacher.

The issue spurred a discussion about changing a District policy which gives teachers priority in receiving coaching positions even if it means not renewing the contract of an effective citizen coach that has been in their position for decades. Activities Director Tod Broman and Superintendent Dr. David Arnold say that’s always been the practice of the District as a way of harboring consistency in having teacher-coaches be around student-athletes year after year.

The Board is now considering changing that policy, and 2015 graduate Bailee Arnburg is an advocate for that change. Arnburg told the Board that in track and basketball, it was Hasty, and not a teacher-coach that was the most consistent source of leadership she had. She added Hasty was a great coach who cares about his athletes, and she would be sad to see him go.

Dave Hammond, a citizen who has coached many sports over the years at the District, says he’s been in Hasty’s position many times, sometimes finding out that he’s been replaced in a coaching position by a teacher through reading about it in the media, instead of somebody from the District directly telling him.

Middle school principal Anthony Lohse noted that giving teachers favorable coaching positions was often ideal, because it could be used as an additional tool to lure quality instructors to work for the District.

Several Board members spoke in favor of Hasty retaining his job. Jill Caltrider believes Hasty is the more qualified assistant basketball coach. Jenyse Belden says in addition to being an effective and well-liked coach, Hasty also adds value to the District by driving a school bus, which saves taxpayer dollars. Marty Doud wants the District to show citizen-coaches that they are valued and appreciated, noting that hasn’t always been done in the past, and Nyle Godwin says, like in most jobs, the most experienced person should keep their position and the less experienced staff should be cut, if need be.

After hearing another pitch from Hasty about his love for coaching basketball and desire to keep at his passion, the Board voted 6-0 to award Hasty the contract for the upcoming season. Board member Harry Light was absent from the meeting.

Upon the suggestion of Neal Crawford, administration, teacher-coaches, citizen-coaches and Board members will meet in the future to discuss a change in policy of not necessarily hiring teachers to coach, over citizens.