Coaches' status delayed until July Tuesday, June 27, 2006 • By MIKE WEILAMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | Sports coaches at Phillipsburg High School will have to wait a little longer to know if they've been approved for the 2006-07 school year. During Monday night's school board meeting, Superintendent Gordon Pethick said no action regarding approval of coaches will be taken until the board meets July 24. "The decision is my decision for the delay," Pethick said. "The reason is for a confidential personnel matter and I can't state anything else under advice of attorney." Board President Paul Rummerfield said later this is the first time in his memory the process has gone into July. He said he was told the contracts would be dealt with in May, then June and was recently told by early July. He said there is no requirement to approve coaches for the next school year by a set date. "We look for early June but in the past it has been extended," Rummerfield said. Rummerfield also said a personnel issue is holding the contracts up, but the issue had to be discussed behind closed doors. He said he was unsure whether the individual involved in the "personnel issue" had been properly notified, which is required under state law. Board member Kevin DeGerolamo said after the meeting he was aware the contracts weren't approved but was told they would be dealt with before the board meets in July. Head varsity field hockey coach Carrie Saul said she hadn't heard anything regarding the coaching approvals prior to Monday's meeting. "I don't know too much," Saul said. "I talk to (Tom Fisher) the athletic director every day so I don't think my job is in jeopardy." However Saul did say it's highly unusual for coaches to still be playing the waiting game on whether they will be rehired. Most coaches at the school already have begun preparations for next season and are getting ready to host summer camps. "I don't ever remember it being this late," Saul said. "We submit our paperwork by May 15 and it's usually done by the beginning of June." Head football coach Bob Stem said things are going business as usual with his program. "I never really thought about it," said Stem, who has coached championship teams at both Bethlehem Catholic and Phillipsburg. "Most people probably weren't even aware of it. I didn't know until (Monday). No one has said anything to me." Mike Weilamann can be reached at 800-360-3601 or by e-mail at mweilamann@express-times.com © 2006 The Express-Times. Used with permission.