POLICY AMENDED — Hancock County Schools Superintendent Dan Enich addresses issues of discussion during Monday’s meeting of the Hancock County Board of Education. -- Craig Howell

NEW CUMBERLAND — Head principals employed by Hancock County Schools are now able to serve as coaches following the approval of an amended policy by the county board of education.

“A while back, I asked the board to look over the coaching policy,” Superintendent Dan Enich said during Monday’s school board meeting.

The policy amendment, which was approved by a 4-1 vote, with board member Jim Horstman voting against, removes language which previously prohibited head principals in Hancock County Schools from serving as a coach, unless it was an emergency situation in the school at which the individual was assigned.

It completed a 30-day comment period July 9, with Enich saying he received only one comment.

In support of the proposal, Enich pointed to his own experience as principal at Weir Middle and Weir High, as well as his prior years as a coach in the county, saying he feels he would have been able to juggle both positions.

“It wouldn’t have affected my ability to administer things in the building,” Enich said.

Enich relayed he has brought up the possibility of such a change at different points over the last 10 years, with little response from previous administrations. The issue was raised last year, but didn’t move forward.

Enich also pointed to a 1999 ruling by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in the case of Victor Holmes versus the Board of Education of Berkeley County and David Rogers, where the court ruled that state code at the time — in particular 18A-2-9 – was “intended to restrict principals to the performance of administrative tasks, prohibiting them from assuming teaching tasks, during the regular school day,” but that the code “does not dictate how a principal may or may not spend his or her time after the regular school day ends.”

As coaching often takes place as an extracurricular activity, the court felt there would be no conflict for a head principal to also serve as a coach.

Board Vice President Ed Fields noted he previously would have been a “no” vote on the issue, but said, if the Supreme Court ruling remains applicable, such a restrictive condition never should have been included in the school district’s policy to begin with.

Horstman, though, expressed concern about potential conflicts in cases where a head principal also serves as a coach, in particular when student discipline is involved.

He said he understands it often can be difficult to find certified coaches to fill positions, but suggested many who might be interested are put off by the process of obtaining certification established by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission.

Board member Randy Swartzmiller, meanwhile, commended Enich for the effort, saying it is important for the school district to try new methods of educating, and changing the policy may attract a wider pool of both coaches and principals.

“As long as we’re changing and trying new things, we’re growing,” Swartzmiller said.

Deans of students or activities sponsors still remain prohibited from holding a coaching position under the county’s policy.