Why do we need a full time AD at the High School?

With the consolidation process it was decided that we would create a full time athletic director position at Ridgeview. It was then decided that we would fill this position with James Colley as a consolidation prize for him not getting the coveted head football coaching position. The interesting part of this equation was that at Clintwood High School, Karen Martin had been doing this duty along with serving as the Assistant Principal. From what information that was passed along to me Mr. Colley does not teach one class at the school, just drives with students in the driver's ed car from time to time. Is this situation the norm for a 2A school in our conference. Let's take a look at the other school's in our conference and see.

Lee County- Ray Robbins, Jeremy Pendergraft- Apparently they split the duties, both are teachers in the high school. Student enrollment 728

Central High School- David Stanley, also serves as Assistant Principal- Student enrollment- Student enrollment 650

John Battle- Tim Sholes- Registered Athletic Director- Teaches P.E. and Advanced P.E.- Student enrollment 600

Union- Mike Goforth- also serves as Assistant Principal- Student enrollment- 630

Gate City- Brent Roberts- also serves as Assistant Principal- Student enrollment- 708

Ridgeview- James Colley- drives with students occasionally- Student enrollment- 701

So to sum things up we are the only school that has a dedicated athletic director, even though we have around the same number of students. The Dickenson Education Association made a recommendation to end this position and Mr. Colley became very defensive at a recent school board meeting. Upon investigation the plan was not to eliminate Mr. Colley from the system just the AD position and reassign it back to Karen Martin, who was moved to the high school. Mr. Colley could have been moved to the gym and one of those teaching positions absorbed, which would HAVE saved a program for the students.