School Board Agrees to Hire Full-Time Athletic Director

The Region 13 Board of Education on Wednesday night voted 6-3 in favor of hiring a full-time athletic director for the school district. 

The move follows the recent retirement of longtime Coginchaug High School athletic director Ted Lombardo and a recommendation made by interim superintendent Dr. Ernest Perlini based on the preliminary findings of a review of the high school’s athletic programs by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference. 

“The draft report very clearly indicates that a school district the size of Region 13 needs to have more time and resources devoted to athletics,” Perlini said.

Perlini said a draft report of last spring’s evaluation, known as the CIAC Exemplary Interscholastic High School Athletic Program Evaluation, makes several recommendations including improvement in the areas of administrative accountability, coaching evaluations, athletic lesson planning, and oversight of uniforms and supplies. 

“They’re suggesting all different things to make athletics truly an education program in this community,” he said.

During a lengthy discussion over the recommendation, board members expressed concern over the addition of an administrative position while acknowledging the benefit of a full-time athletic director.

“I hate the idea of spending money, “ said board member Dr. Victor Friedrich, “but it seems to me at this moment, simply as a matter of strategy, what we want to do is to protect what we have.”

Friedrich said he worried the position had become too much of a burden for a part-time athletic director to handle. He said the position would give the school district greater flexibility and could be eliminated down the road if deemed unnecessary.

Under the full-time proposal, the athletic director would earn a base salary of about $90,000, according to school officials, or roughly double the $40,000 currently budgeted for the part-time athletic director position. In addition, the new athletic director would oversee grades K through 12 and the position of coordinator of athletics at the middle school level would be eliminated.

Board chairman Kerrie Flanagan described the position as “cost neutral,” saying the roughly $50,000 difference in salary would be funded through the elimination of a part-time special education position, a recommendation made by administrators.

As of Oct. 1, newly hired athletic directors in Connecticut will be required to carry a certificate in administration and supervision — or what’s known as 092.

District 13 does not currently have the appropriate amount of qualified staff to meet the requirements of teacher evaluations, Perlini said, and would benefit from the addition a full-time athletic director.

“The person would be able to relieve some of the supervision evaluation at the high school,” he said.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that this person can be put to very good use for this district,” Flanagan agreed.

Board member Merrill Adams, however, suggested the position be ‘phased in.’

“I am not in favor of a full-time A.D.,” Adams said. “ There are so many academic things that we did not fund because we did not have the money that I would not really support having another person in the administration.”

Robert Fulton, who also voted against the addition of the position, questioned whether the board was prepared to determine the long-term financial impact of the move.

“It’s something we need to address ASAP,” Perlini responded.

Prior to the board's approval, members commended Lombardo for his dedication and service to the school district.

“The amount of time, effort and energy Ted Lombardo has put into this program is to be commended. He truly has done a Yeoman’s job,” said Nancy Boyle.