The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Board of Trustees unanimously appointed part-time athletic director Milton Smith to a full-time role Wednesday after multiple closed-door meetings this week.
Smith, who was also serving as a part-time Starkville High School principal, will transition immediately to his full-time job.
Before appointing Smith, the SOCSD Board of Trustees unanimously rescinded a motion advertising for the job. The board cited personnel matters and potential litigation before moving to closed session but did not address the possible litigation in regular session.
School board members would not comment about if the two matters were connected.
The board previously met Monday behind closed doors and discussed the topic.
In a statement released Wednesday, board members said they felt Smith “had not been given sufficient opportunity to serve as full-time athletic director and determined he should be given that opportunity.”
SOCSD Board of Trustees President Eddie Myles said the biggest challenge Smith faces as athletic director is the demand created by a growing districtwide enrollment.
“We’re now a 6A school. Increasing enrollment means (a lot of students are) going to be playing a lot of sports,” Myles said. “His biggest challenge is to treat every sport equally. We know the money-makers in this city – football, basketball and baseball – but we have to make sure we do due diligence with all sports, and that includes female sports as well.”
Stan Miller, SOCSD’s former athletic director, has served in an advisory capacity since he announced his upcoming retirement last year. It is not known how long Miller will continue to function in that capacity.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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