Clay named VCHS football coach
Though he will continue to walk the sideline at Vandalia Vandals varsity football games, Jason Clay will now be doing so in a different capacity.
Clay, a Vandalia Community High School graduate who now teaches geography at VCHS, was hired on Tuesday as the new head football coach at the high school.
Clay, who played football for four years at both VCHS and McKendree University, was hired by the school board to succeed John Stout, who retired from the head coaching after serving in that position in two stints totaling 17 years.
Clay was one of three candidates for the position, and was recommended for the post by an interview committee that included Superintendent Rich Well, VCHS Principal Randy Protz, Okaw Area Vocational Center Director Nick Casey, Vandalia Junior High School Principal Brian Kern and three school board members – President Chris Palmer, Matt Hall and Jay Smith.
Clay, who has been the Vandals’ defensive coordinator in recent years, is also the head wrestling coach at VCHS, and Well said that he will continue to serve in that position.
The new head coach played on two playoff teams and was an assistant coach for six playoff teams at VCHS.
the 11 VCHS football teams advancing to the playoffs, Clay was a part of eight of those.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the school board hired a trio of individuals to coach the boys track team at VCHS. Gena Nance, who is the girls track coach, will be joined by Jenna Rich and Dylan Krueger.
The board also on Tuesday:
• Held a public hearing prior to the regular board meeting on the possible sale of working cash funding bonds in the coming fiscal year.
Well explained that while the district is currently “where we need to be” in its funds, “we will be keeping our eyes on the balances as we go throughout the rest of this fiscal year because of the uncertainty of a budget in Springfield.”
He said that the district was “hit with another pro-ration in addition to what we were already pro-rated” in the last two months of the past fiscal year, and that the president of the state’s superintendent association said that that’s a possibility again this year.
That’s where the working cash bonds may be needed, Well said, noting that the district had three years to use $2.5 million in bonds, “if needed.
“That’s basically our insurance policy,” Well said.
“We’ve been through this before, so we’ll just need to see where this goes,” he said.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting:
• The board approved the June 30, 2021, retirements of Larry Emerick, Laurie Wells and Joal Donaldson.
• The board approved the school calendar for the 2016-17 school year. That calendar has an Aug. 17 starting date, seven days for Christmas break and a last student day (with no snow days) of May 18.