I have at least one absolutely compelling reason to vote yes on ballot questions 2A and 2B for the larger override supporting the Harvard town omnibus budget. The Bromfield School has made do with a part-time athletic director for … well, forever. The athletic director has been either someone with some teaching or administrative responsibilities or a part-time employee. The job has grown in scope, with additional responsibilities and needed skills, more sports teams and a regulatory environment placing more actions on the athletic director.
Here is what I understand to be the athletic director’s tasks, knowing the several directors going back to when my sons were Bromfield athletes:
- Schedule and reschedule all team games, in contact with other school athletic directors.
- Determine and coordinate team practice schedules.
- When referees are required, ensure that all home games are covered.
- For middle school home games, schedule referees directly.
- For team sports, be present at home games and playoff games to deal with audience behavioral issues, or assure that a senior school administrator is present to fulfill this role.
- Schedule transportation for all teams playing games away from Bromfield.
- Purchase matching team uniforms to be reused annually, and determine when uniforms need to be replaced.
- Provide team uniforms to coaches at the beginning of the sports season.
- Collect and inventory team uniforms from coaches or players at the end of sports seasons, if uniforms are to be used from season to season.
- Maintain inventory of equipment and consumable supplies used by each sport, replenishing as necessary.
- Coordinate and communicate with Harvard’s nonschool youth sports and town government organizations regarding use and maintenance of sports facilities.
- Arrange for rental and use of sports venues as required.
- Interview and hire candidates for open coaching positions, following necessary due diligence.
- Draft the sports budget for the school year, review with principals and superintendent.
Maybe I’ve missed something here, but the foregoing describes a full-time job of a person with very good communication and organizational skills in a role extending outside of regular school hours.
Ben Myers
Westcott Road
