Two motions to approve the coaching staff for the Depew School District’s entire athletic program failed to pass at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting.

Dan McGrath, director of physical education, athletics and facilities, told the board that its failure to act on the resolution put “all the coaches in jeopardy.” McGrath, who was in a lengthy executive session with the board between its reorganizational and regular business meetings, noted that many coaches are already at work.

Board Vice President Barbara Staebell, presiding at the business meeting in the absence of President Steven Carmina, said, “For the most part the coaches will be appointed, but we have questions about just a few positions.”

The first vote on the coaching staff failed for lack of a second to a motion by Timothy Schunk to approve the appointment. At the end of the meeting, David Sheff, who was sworn in Wednesday as the board’s newest member, moved to place the coaching staff back on the agenda, a motion that passed.

Staebell read the list of coaches and a short discussion followed, yielding few specifics of any objections to names on the list. McGrath and some board members said they could not identify individual coaches or even the coaching positions that are under scrutiny. Sheff moved to approve the list; Schunk seconded the motion and Nancy Fumerelle joined them in voting yes. The motion died in a 3-3 vote. Voting no were John Spencer, Staebell and Diane Benczkowski. Carmina had to leave after the reorganizational meeting.

During the reorganization meeting, Carmina and Staebell were re-elected to their respective posts. Schunk, who was reelected in May, and Sheff, who replaces Sue Wagner who did not seek re-election, were sworn in.