oldschool2

I think that it's easy to spot a problem with smaller school school boards. As an educator, you have to obtain a bachelor's degree and then pass a series of certification tests. As an administrator, you have to do all that...and have a master's degree along with corresponding certification tests. As a school board member...not only do you not have to meet any educational requirements whatsoever, you don't even really have to have a job. Yeah they have to attend a training of some kind...however often. But as long as you're there you've met the requirement. They aren't tested over the content. Teacher - Professional position with college degree and tested certification(s) Principal/Athletic Director/Superintendent - Professional position with college degree(s) and tested certification(s) School Board - may or may not have attended a college class. Has to approve budget for entire campus. Responsible for all hiring/firing decisions regardless of what is recommended. Member 1-electricians helper Member 2-works for the city Member 3-unemployed Member 4-refinery Member 5-Farmer Member 6-unemployed Member 7-Barber All 7 members probably were on the high school football team (and would've played college if the coach would've liked them), coach youth sports every single year in every single sport, and have kids in the school system. Obviously..I know not every board is like this. And I'm sure that are some school boards that do fantastic jobs. But you know good and well that I just described a pretty good majority of small school school boards to an extent.

If nothing happens to Livingston...I would turn in 10% less on every snapshot from now on. Might as well chance it if nothing happens..

Personally I think it should be at the school's discretion. 99% or more of all high schools in America will not have any pro athletes.. If they feel as someone is worthy.. who's to argue.

A basketball team beating a school of higher classification is a normal thing. It happens every single year...all over the country...in high school and in college. It does not happen nearly as often in football or baseball. That's because in basketball you have 5 players. A good group is a good group. Or 1 or 2 REALLY good players and a few decent players is still a good team. That happens only in basketball. Had Dville been put in a district with Big Sandy, San Augustine, West Sabine, Grapeland, Alto....they would've gotten skull drug exactly like they are now. And yes when you get to a certain point in playoffs bigger schools will often prevail. Silsbee and HJ are traditionally pretty dang good basketball teams. Lets take some other 4A schools and see how they might fair in the local 3A district (Kountze, Buna, Woodville)... HF, Orangefield, Liberty, Tarkington, Coldspring,...um...I'm not seeing much difference between schools with 100+ more kids. and...You're talking Ozen and Central I'm sure...which have both made the 5A state tourney recently. What about the bottom feeders of that 5A district? Lumberton plays Kountze every year...right? How does that go? And let's talk girls hoops a second.. Evadale's girls beat just about every team in this area, any classification (that they play). And when's the last time they made it to the state tourney? So if HF, Buna, Silsbee, Lumberton,...all lose to Evadale (2A), and Evadale gets eliminated round 3...are we to assume Lumberton's girls wouldn't make the 2A state tourney? I don't think that's far fetched..

Potentially. I have no idea what Dville has...nor the other schools. I just know what they've had previous. Sabine Pass could be scary any given year...just depends on what they get from PA. HD is a you never know...and WH is a you never know. But either way..you are correct Dville should be competitive in that district.

No...I'm not arguing that. Their new district is pretty bad. Really bad actually...UIL was very kind to Deweyville in this instance. But they could've easily gotten some local 2A schools that are capable of doing to them what Kounzte does to them as well.

I never said I didn't know that it's part of the territory.. I know way too many people in education to not know that. And no...coaches can't leave at any given moment..well..and not have some kind of negative consequence. When they sign a contract there is a certain point in time where they have to honor that contract. Just like there is a certain amount of time a school has to honor the contract that was given. I guess it does work both ways...but this I can guarantee. The reason a coach resigns from a school is almost always what's in the best interest for their career and/or family. When a coach is non renewed the reason is usually based on the opinion of a group of board members that it could've and should've been done better. I obviously don't know the exact statistics on that...but I'd be willing to bet a substantial amount of money that it's pretty one sided. I will never take the side of a school district or board over that of a coach. Unless the coach is in clear violation of their contract...I'll take their side. Coaches are only limited to the amount of talent they have...parents and board members never want to hear that truth. Unless I get a good reason for this non renewal...I will not be swayed. And whether he may or may not have applied for other jobs is not a good reason.

Which part?.. Do you honestly expect a coach to show 100% loyalty to a school district that only gives them a contracted job for 1 or 2 years at a time? This right here is exactly why coaches explore options...because they know that any single year a board member can be the reason they have to search for a new job. Might as well build up interview skills...my dad told me a long time ago. "Son, get as much from them as you can while you can. Because none of them care about you at all." He wasn't necessarily talking about a school but I think that holds true with any job you have. If they want a coach to retire at their school they should give contracts that don't run out.

That isn't reason for non renewal. Every single coach that has ever coached applies for other jobs. Some want to see what will come of it...some use it as interview practice...some use it as leverage. Nothing wrong with it. If the Navasota school board wants a coach that refuses to explore other options then they might as well let a parent coach the team every single year.

There are certain things that can get an educator relieved of their duties immediately. Most of them are criminal offenses...but I can assure you even educators can be put on administrative leave. It happened to a coworker of my first wife for misappropriate handling of funds. That's why I said if he would've been relieved of duties during contract I would know automatically that something had been done. But I would like to see an explanation in this case.

Big Sandy is 2A...and they're better than Kountze. Basketball is not like football...class makes a huge difference in football. But in basketball it doesn't. Now you get to run into more teams that play basketball only. Think that's gonna help?

Firing someone is completely different. If this coach would've been let go while in the middle of his contract, then yes I would've believed some kind of breach in contract had happened. But when someone gets non renewed it's usually because the administration and/or school board is unhappy with the job performance. And either wants to go a different direction or bring in someone that they feel can get the job done. On the surface...it appears that there is no reason at all for the non renewal. The sup made the recommendation, and according to the article was completely blind sided by the result and so was the coach. That tells me a decision was made by enough board members that they want a new football coach. Even if they decided to table the decision until the next meeting...why wait? They got the recommendation...the coach produces results...what's the issue. The athletic directors job is to ensure the success of all sports programs, handle budgets/stipends of all sports programs, and if they have head football tied to the job their job is also to produce results cocerning that sport. I just don't get it. They're pretty competitive in every sport...mishandling of funds could've resulted in being fired (like you talked about)...so what's the deal? I hate to assume.. but it seems like personal agenda to me.

I didn't say that that's what their employment should be based on ONLY. I personally think some of the best coaches in the state have never won a state title..or even come close to it. But let's be honest....in what level of sports can you think of where coach's job performance isn't based on how many games they win? That would be none.

Did Kountze press from start to finish? If so..Dville could've spent more time last couple weeks with press offense, or pressure passing. I know you can't simulate it without that type of athleticism...but chances are they didn't press the entire game. In fact..I would bet that they didn't press much (if any) after halftime. Which tells me one or 2 things...A) You can burn up a surprising amount of clock by using your full 10 seconds you have in the backcourt. That's assuming Kountze is stealing it as soon as you cross the 10 second line. When Kountze got out of their pressure defense at whatever point...Dville could've held on to the ball a little longer before attempting a score...or even getting close to attempting to score.. But in reality...it's probably better to lose 124-38 than 80-10. I mean..what's the difference. But don't give me this or that about running the score up. If that's your style Kountze...play on. But yes I think it will eventually hurt them when they play a team that can handle pressure. I scored over 40 points several times in high school..and each time I only played about half the game. But none were on my last home game..I would've loved to have a career night last home game. Coach left him in? Who cares...

54-3 over the last 4 seasons.....and 109-30 in 10 years.... I don't see how any single person on this planet can coach. If those numbers aren't enough to get a renewal then nothing is. Those board members are fools...this has personal agenda written all over it. 5 admin recommendations and the Head Football Coach is only one that didn't go thru...? Yeah...Navasota got the POPS (pissed off parent syndrome)

Exactly...what does that tell you about most coaches.. They're screwed from the get go.

Agree to disagree. One would certainly hope not...especially at a school this size. But don't kid yourself...upset board members and community members are the cause of contract renewals every year.

Seriously doubt Silsbee can afford him.

Oh there's definitely more to the story.. Like a couple of board members have kids that weren't starters maybe? I would not be surprised at all if this was the case. I officially want Navasota to win the title this next year and then he give everyone a 2 handed salute ..I.. ..I.. on his way out the door. He won't have any issue at all finding a good job.

I agree..but I doubt you and I are talking about the same "them". Only reason the score got like this was because DEWEYVILLE let this score get out of hand. Kountze didn't run it up...Dville just didn't stop it.

Really stupid.

I'll admit...this is pretty compelling. And quite interesting.

ALWAYS 2 sides.

Another solution could be to stick with your initial decision. I wouldn't credit 18 year old kids for making the greatest choices ...but something like this I would think a kid would really look into it and think hard before committing to play for someone. Just my opinion. You don't have to say yes to the first offer you get. I know it's exciting to feel wanted by a school...(I've been there)...but just be sure. That would've fixed this.

Nail on the head.. This has more to do with it than anything. Economics. I know SETX may not have the wealth (anymore) of some areas of the state. But there is still wealth here. I personally don't think it's being utilized. Most of the country's oil is refined here in SETX...so you can't say there isn't money. I think it's education, and priorities.