The Buckeye Local Classroom Teacher's Assocation claims the board of education has violated state law by hiring a non-teacher as head softball coach.

At Monday's meeting, union members gathered to voice their support for Sam Jones, the school's athletic director, who had also applied for the coaching job.

"I'm humbled by the support of the 40-50 teachers who were in the meeting tonight, and the close to 200 that have signed a letter on my behalf, and from the bottom of my heart, I just want to thank them," said Jones.

The board members who had voted against hiring Jones said it was nothing personal, but some questioned whether he could do both jobs.

"I don't think one person can handle all of this," said board member Naoma Kolkedy.

Union president Heather Long countered, saying that several other school districts in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference have athletic directors who also serve as coaches.

Long also claimed that the board violated the Ohio Revised Code by not hiring a teacher.

"The went against what law states, so they will have to deal with the repercussions based on this," said Long. "No hard feelings against the gentleman they hired. I mean, he is a man of the community; he is a good upstanding man of the community.  We want to hire teachers first."

Jones's case is now headed to arbitration.  That's frustrating for the union and several board members who mentioned a similar case that went into arbitration and ended recently with the board paying a settlement to the coach who filed the grievance.