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GIRARD -- The Girard Board of Education has approved a new post -- a district-wide supervisor of student wellness and strength.
The board this week approved the job description and then hired Michael Cochran for the post, effective Tuesday, at $79,500 for 260 days.
Superintendent Bryan O'Hara said Cochran will be at the three school buildings supervising strength and wellness for athletes.
He said the district had a similar position in past years, when it was a part-time job, and last year hired a third-party agency to handle the responsibilities.
"None of the avenues in the past ever produced consistency for the needs of our student athletes," he said.
Cochran previously served as athletic director for Canfield schools.
Duties will include collaborating with coaches and administrators to develop and implement wellness and strength programs for fall, winter and spring athletic teams; scheduling of weight room facility; attending pre-season parent meetings to discuss wellness and strength programs; and supporting the development of lifetime health and fitness knowledge for Girard students.
Job goals include development of all student athletes through a comprehensive wellness and strength program; working in conjunction with the district's athletic trainer and team doctor to reduce athletic injuries by developing sport specific injury re-education programs; coordinating a student-mentoring wellness support system for all students; and assisting in the development and implementation of a positive coaching research-based training and resources for coaches, parents, athletes, and leaders to ensure a positive development experience for all students.
This is the second new position added by the district in two months. In early June, the district created the position of associate superintendent and named former Girard Intermediate principal Julianne Ware to the post, effective Tuesday.
At the time, O'Hara said a quarter of her $96,000 salary would be offset by her handling the district's gifted services program, which previously was outsourced to the Trumbull County Educational Service Center.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
O'Hara said with the school motto of "We are Girard family taking care of each other," the board also has approved providing all district students in grades kindergarten to 12th with school supplies, which students will receive on the first day of school Aug. 22.
"When they come to school on the first day, the teachers will give them their school supplies. This is a way to help take better care of the students by taking the burden off families," O'Hara said, noting students will receive notebooks, pens, paper, glue, crayons and markers.
The students also will receive hygiene items such as disinfectant wipes and facial tissue.
O'Hara said this is the second year the district has done this, with supplies given for the full year.
"We do a check half way through the year to see where we are with our school supply inventory and replenish when needed," he said.
O'Hara said the money has been allocated from the general fund. He said the district has 1,700 students, so he did not have total cost for the items.
The district is waiting for bids for security cameras, film for windows and the planned performing arts center to be constructed on the northwest corner of the high school property off Shannon Road.
O'Hara said in preparation for the 2023-24 year, parking lot resurfacing work has been done at the three district buildings All classrooms at Prospect Elementary School have been painted. The fire alarm systems and technology equipment also have been updated.