BERLIN CENTER Parent asks for freshman volleyball

The renovation also would provide cover for district buses.
By JOANN JONES
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BERLIN CENTER -- Discussion about the volleyball program and renovations to accommodate the T-shirt business of the manufacturing technology class took up the bulk of the recent Western Reserve Board of Education meeting.
Parent Brenda Hernan spoke about the possibility of establishing a freshman volleyball program for the fall since she had been unsuccessful in persuading the district to establish one this past season.
"I sent letters and petitions. There's quite a bit of interest in the junior high now," she said, adding that a freshman team is necessary for the program to develop.
Hernan said she did research to find schools that had freshman teams that could play Western Reserve.
Too many freshmen quit or don't go out because they think they won't play at the junior varsity level, she said.
Coach: Hernan also spoke in favor of first-year volleyball coach Jason Jones, who requested an executive session with the board after the meeting.
Jones is concerned about the program and is very good at teaching the kids, Hernan said.
Another parent said he was under the impression Jones had been asked not to return as coach. He asked how board members, who hadn't attended a game all season, could vote one way or the other.
Superintendent Charles Swindler explained that the board's decisions to hire coaches are based on recommendations of the athletic director and principal.
Board members John Cotton and Robert Hermiller told Hernan they got both positive and negative phone calls about the volleyball program.
"I've received all sorts of calls about many extracurriculars," Hermiller said, "but I haven't gotten one call about the curriculum in two years. That's sad."
Swindler also said he was concerned about Western Reserve freshmen competing with much larger schools since there are no freshman teams in the Inter-County League to which Western Reserve belongs.
He added he doesn't want the team to travel long distances just to play a school its size.
Renovations: Swindler introduced plans to renovate the back of the high school building, which is now a storage area, to give the manufacturing technology class more room and a storefront from which to conduct its T-shirt business.
Renovations would also allow a canopy to cover district buses.
He said the district is looking at grant money to fund the project.
Personnel: After an executive session to discuss personnel, Lewis Speece, an assistant varsity track coach and a resident of Berlin Center, was named football coach for the 2002 season. A retired teacher, Speece replaces Mark Morris.
Ed McCoy of Alliance and Mona Stover of Salem were selected to fill two open custodian positions at the high school.
The board hired Mark Wilson as an unpaid swimming coach and Lloyd Spellman as an unpaid wrestling coach.
Both are parents of students who want to compete in those sports at the varsity level and at the state tournament. Western Reserve offers neither sport.