-Daily Freeman Journal photo by Joe Sutter Interim Athletic Director Joe Shanks began his job on Jan. 1 and will work for the Webster City School District until June 30. Next year, the board plans to hire an activities director who will help coordinate and publicize all sorts of high school activities, beyond athletics.

As they met the school’s interim athletics director, Webster County Community School board members were talking about how the position could be changed or expanded going forward.

Joe Shanks, who was athletics director at St. Edmond Catholic School for 21 years, was introduced to the school board Thursday night.

“Thank you for having me. It’s good to get back in the game,” Shanks said. “Everyone has been real welcoming.”

Shanks started in his position at WC schools the first of January, and has a contract for the current school year ending on June 30.

As it looks to hire a full time person, the board will be discussing how the role of athletics director will change into that of an activities director, said Superintendent Dr. Mandy Ross.

–Daily Freeman Journal photo by Joe Sutter
Webster City School Board member Linda Williams, left, gives an update on reorganization talks for the school board members Richard Stroner, Juli Jaycox, Michelle Walters, Beth Van Diest, and Superintendent Mandy Ross.

A great number of activities are going on other than athletics, said Board Director Richard Stroner.

“For example last week, I went to the speech event,” Stroner said. “And we had I don’t know how many groups, WCTV folks, two or three other groups, qualify for the state competition which I believe is next Saturday, and we think it’s in Waterloo, but none of that ever got reported.

“And it’s a shame because these kids did a really outstanding job.”

“That’s part of the reason we’re restructuring the position,” Ross said. “It’s not that this person has to be at all the activities, but rather organizing, publicizing, and getting it posted on the calendar.

“I think the restructuring of the position will allow us to get that out there more consistently.”

This is what other schools around the area are doing with their activities directors as well, Shanks said.

Shanks takes over for Bob Howard, who retired as Webster City’s AD and resigned his post as the head football coach in November 2018. Ross has said she expects a full-time activities director to be hired prior to the end of the school year.

Shanks — a 1976 graduate of St. Edmond, where he was twice named all-state in baseball — earned his 500th career coaching victory back in 2015. That same year, he was inducted into the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Shanks is also a member of the Briar Cliff University Hall of Fame.