CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield Area School District Board of Directors on Monday night voted, 6-3, to appoint Tom Mohney and Leslie Grice as co-head coaches of the girls’ soccer team at the high school.
Board members Dave Glass, Mary Anne Jackson, Jennifer Wallace, Tim Morgan, Rick Schickling and Larry Putt all approved. Board members Susan Mikesell, Dr. Michael Spencer and Phil Carr cast the opposing votes.
During the public comment session, Soccer Boosters President Patrick Powers once more encouraged the appointments of Mohney and Grice. “I understand you’re still grappling over the administrative issue,” he said.
“Tom is an excellent employee. He spends time with his family outside of work. I think quality is important. I want you all to consider that.”
The board was pressed to fill the vacant head girls’ soccer coach position and to name Mohney and Grice as co-head coaches of the program in March. However, the board tabled action on both appointments during the pre-board session before its regular, voting meeting last month.
According to a prior GantDaily report, Powers described himself as “saddened” by the board’s decision to not take any action. “I encourage you to move forward with it,” he said. “Tom, he eats, drinks and breathes soccer. We need leadership in place; the team makes a year-around commitment.”
Powers realized there were some concerns about Mohney being a district administrator. Mohney is currently the Special Education Supervisor for the Clearfield schools.
However, Powers didn’t believe the prospective co-head coach would have submitted his application if he couldn’t handle the responsibilities of both.
Bob Aleksivich, president of the Clearfield Soccer Asoociation, confronted the school board, while he’s actively coached and currently has a daughter who competes on the girls’ team at the high school.
“As a parent, you want to see what’s best for your children,” he said, “and Leslie and Tom are the best candidates that the Clearfield Area School District has to offer.
“From what I understand, it’s not a debate about qualifications but the management of the team. I think both would provide an excellent opportunity for the girls.”
According to him, the CSA endorses both Mohney and Grice as co-head coaches. He said both have earned trust as district employees, and he asked the board to “trust their trustworthiness.”
In February, a motion to name Mohney the head girls’ soccer coach resulted in a divided vote at four apiece. Board members Glass, Mikesell, Putt and Wallace concurred.
However, Jackson, Carr, Morgan and Spencer opposed the motion. Schickling was absent from the meeting.
