The Daniel Boone School Board unanimously approved on Dec. 18 to appoint John Reina as assistant varsity baseball coach at the High School, for the 2017-18 school year, at $3,597 per year.
Board members Aaron Durso, Dane Ochis-O’Neal, and David Rathgeb were absent from the meeting.
Daniel Boone’s previous board had tabled earlier in 2017 the vote to appoint Reina as assistant coach.
Cited as a personnel issue and not discussed at open board meetings, members indicated a possible conflict if Reina was still working with the Reading-based youth baseball organization Bluerocks Baseball.
“I encourage the board to accept Reina back as a coach,” said Rob Kuntz, at the board’s Dec. 4 reorganization meeting, when the Dec. 18 voting meeting agenda was presented.
Kurtz, Douglassville, said his three sons were coached years ago by Reina at Daniel Boone.
“We have the opportunity to do something special with baseball through the eighth grade at this school district,” said Kuntz, adding, “He plays a big part of that. He understands the game.”
“Someone said there is a conflict, but he has not coached with the Bluerocks for several years — because he wants to coach here. He’s a good coach, good person.”
Kuntz said the school district would be doing a “tremendous disservice” if Reina’s not appointed assistant coach.
“We lost him for a number of years, when he went to a school where he was offered a salary, since no salary was offered here,” said Kelly Heffner, Douglassville, on Dec. 4.
“He has an amazing baseball mind. He and his wife volunteer in the community. If you let him go, you are doing a disservice — he always has the kids’ best interests at heart. Let’s not lose him.”
