Published: July 14, 2009 01:52 pm      

Dutch Vigar to lead New Albany athletics

Board also reorganizes, naming Roger Whaley as president

New Albany High School’s sports are about to go Dutch, with new interim athletic director Howard “Dutch” Vigar that is.

The New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. board voted Monday night to appoint him for the year, starting July 27. Vigar will fill in for Don Unruh, who is working as interim principal at NAHS.

“I’m excited and I’m looking forward to it,” Vigar said. “I think it’s going to be a new and challenging experience.”

Vigar said he retired from teaching at NA-FC in 2007, but has been helping fill temporary teaching positions for much of the time since then. He said he has taught for more than 30 years and coached for the same amount of time. Right now, he coaches boys’ soccer and swimming.

Brad Snyder, deputy superintendent, said Vigar will hold that position until Unruh returns after his year as interim principal. If Unruh is named the permanent principal, then Vigar will stay in that role until a replacement is found, Snyder added.

Vigar said if the position is kept open and if he enjoys the job like he expects to, he said he would like to take the permanent position. However, he said he does not hold an administrator’s license, which may or may not be a requirement for the permanent position.

PLAY BALL

The school board approved a lease agreement between the corporation and the Grant Line Girls Softball League at a fee of $1 a year.

Bill Wiseheart, director of facilities, told the board that NA-FC previously had an agreement with the league, which uses the fields at Grant Line Elementary School. In a memo to the board, he said the new language in the lease is more consistent with that used in their interlocal agreements with the New Albany-Floyd County Parks and Recreation Department and has stronger insurance requirements than the original.

The agreement allows NA-FC to terminate the lease with 60 days notice and 30 additional days for removal of improvements, at the cost of the league. If the lease is not terminated, it will automatically renew.

The board also agreed to allow the league to construct a new, two-story concession building that will be located in the center of the softball fields. The building is to replace the old one located on the southwest portion of the property.

According to the memo from Bill Wiseheart, the league would be responsible for utility relocation and connection to the sewer system.

He said if the lease is terminated, the league would have to remove the structure. If it did not within the given timeframe, it would become school property.

NEW LEADERS

The school board also voted on who should be president, vice president and secretary of the board.

The board unanimously picked Roger Whaley to replace outgoing president Neal Smith. Lee Ann Wiseheart was chosen to replace vice president Rebecca Gardenour, with a 6-0-1 vote, with Wiseheart making the lone abstaining vote. The board voted unanimously for Jim Zoeller to serve as secretary, replacing Patricia Badger-Byrd.

NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

The board named Janice Pielemeier as an administrative intern for the first semester of this upcoming school year and assistant principal for the second semester at Hazelwood Middle School, if she finishes getting her school administrator license as she is due to this fall.

“It means a lot. Hazelwood is my home and I can’t think of anywhere else I’d want to be other than Hazelwood and New Albany-Floyd County,” Pielemeier told the board as she fought back tears.

Pielemeier has been with NA-FC since 1990, with the exception of one year where she taught at Clarksville High School.

SCHOOL ATTORNEY

The board named John Woodard, with Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs law firm, as its corporation attorney of record.

Snyder said the board does not have to pay any retainer or have a commitment to hire him for any given issue.

Snyder said it is part of school board policy to name an attorney of record every year when the board reorganizes.

The board voted 6-1, with Lee Ann Wiseheart voting against, to keep Woodard, who previously held the same title.

She said she felt the policy served no purpose, since the school board will hire attorneys who specialize in whatever they are looking for when they need someone.

Also at the meeting:

• The board reminded everyone of Wednesday’s public meetings with the second superintendent candidate. Read Meet and Greet on the front page for more information.