Plese tapped for activities director position

HIBBING—The Hibbing School Board has selected a coach with over 20 years experience in Bluejacket athletics to fill the vacant activities director position.

At a special meeting on Monday the board voted 5 to 1 to hire James Plese Jr. to fill the position. The board accepted the resignation of Keith Turner, the current activities director at its September 17 meeting, effective September 30.

Director Sarah Gabardi, on Monday, posed questions during discussion prior to putting the matter to a vote. Gabardi said she fielded questions from the public, including why the position was posted internally and externally, if there was an internal candidate interested in the position.

Plese Jr., a teacher and member of the Hibbing United Educators (HEU) Bargaining Unit, was one of 16 applicants and applied for the activities director position as an external candidate, Hibbing School Superintendent Rick Aldrich explained at the special meeting on Monday.

In his new position, Plese will be a member of the non-aligned bargaining unit. The non-aligned unit consists of a handful of people, who hold positions that do not require a certain licensure, according to Aldrich.

Plese, a 1999 Hibbing graduate teaches health at Lincoln Middle School, and has been involved in coaching there since 2000, most recently as the head coach for the cross country and track teams. He also served as an assistant basketball coach for about 10 years now.

During further discussion on the hiring procedure, Director Jeff Polcher requested the matter be put to a vote.

A motion by Polcher and seconded by Director Kim McLaughlin to hire Plese as Activities Director passed 5 to 1 in a roll call vote. Gabardi voted no, and had expressed an interest in continuing the discussion.

The board unanimously passed a leave of absence request from Plese from his 1.0 teaching position at Lincoln Elementary, effective September 24.