Niles hires new coach as social studies teacher


NILES

Two members of the board of education were not happy with a recommendation to pay more than $49,000 to Brian Shaner, the new head football coach, as a social studies teacher at Niles McKinley High School. The board, however, approved the hiring Wednesday in a split vote. The three remaining board members voted in favor.

Shaner’s pay is based on his master’s degree and 10 years of experience.

Shaner did not attend the board meeting.

The district, which has been under fiscal watch since 2003, avoided a possible declaration of fiscal emergency by laying off teachers and non-teaching staff.

Shaner will be paid $7,219 as varsity head coach.

Mary Ann McMahon, president of the Niles Education Association, the teachers bargaining unit, said she was not happy with the decision.

“In 14 months of negotiations, they told us there was no money, so this is a concern for us,” McMahon said. “There have been a number of qualified people such as substitutes who could have been hired for less.”

McMahon said none of the laid-off teachers qualified for the social studies position.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.