Posted: 10/23/07
School board reviewed several
varsity athletics issues Oct. 15
By Jane Palen
Special to the Caledonia Argus
Varsity athletics as they affect both participants and spectators dominated most of the discussion at the meeting of the ISD #299 School Board on October 15.
The first issue to be discussed by the board was whether to designate a special area next to the football/soccer field for parking to allow the elderly and handicapped to watch the games from their cars. The matter was first brought up in August by Donald Moore, and the board viewed the area Moore recommended prior to the September meeting.
Superintendent Michael Moriarty said that the board is interested in providing those accommodations, but that there is no money in the budget to grade and put down a crushed rock surface as would be required by the city. He said a variance would also be needed. Moore said he also spoke to the city, and was told that a variance would not be necessary, nor would a crushed rock surface.
"There will be another one to three (football) games played there this year, Iíd like to see something done," Moore told the board.
Moriarty said he received a bid of $5,000 for the surfacing, and the issue will be voted on at the November meeting. Moriarty said he will approach the city again to clarify what the requirements will be.
On another matter, the board heard a plea from a parent to develop a policy that would require student athletes to play at the appropriate level for their grades.
The parent, Janelle Field-Rohrer, who is also a teacher in the middle school, said her daughter Kendra , a senior, was ill with mononucleosis this year, and as a result also contracted hepatitis. Her doctor would not allow her to attend practices with the soccer team. According to Field-Rohrer, after her physician gave Kendra written permission to play, she was told by the coach that she had missed too much practice and had been removed from the roster and was asked to return her jersey. Meanwhile, younger athletes were named to the roster.
"The board needs to address this," said Field-Rohrer. "There is a program for junior high and middle school, and they should play there." She added that Kendra had no control over her illness, and should have been treated as an injured player and returned to the roster when she was cleared to play.
"This is the last chance she has in her life to play soccer," said Field-Rohrer.
High school principal Ron Helmers said he had discussed the issue with the soccer coach and athletic director. In regard to the jersey, he said it was a matter of there not being enough jerseys to go around. Also, the roster needed to be certified before post-season play began (the girls soccer team lost in the semi-finals).
Helmers said that he has talked to juniors and seniors who are not playing sports and they say it is because the younger students are playing instead.
The board noted that while there are clear guidelines for eligibility, there are no policies regarding whether younger students can or should play at the varsity level. The board agreed to consider putting a policy in place.
Building and grounds committee addresses erosion claim
Speaking on behalf of the building and grounds committee, school board member Charlie Wray said the committee had investigated the claims of Andy and Sheri Allen regarding erosion on their land adjacent to school property and found that the erosion is occurring in a part of the waterway that was not seeded down.
"We worked with Hilary (Allen, Andyís late grandfather and former owner) in good faith and relied on the experts," said Wray. "We paid for the plan. Weíve done everything we could." The problem, he said, is on one "leg" of the waterway, about 50 feet in length, that was shaped but not seeded down and is eroding.
"The grounds committee feels we did what was required," said Wray.
The committee will write a letter to the Allens explaining their findings.
Request for music trips
Band director Carrie Erickson appeared before the board on behalf of her self and choir director Eliott Kranz to request a band/choir trip every two years. The trips would alternate between a large trip and a small trip, Erickson told the board. The trips would be student-funded and have educational value. The students would begin fund-raising for the next trip this year, she noted.
The board agreed to put the request on the agenda as an action item for November.
In other news, the board:
ï approved Larry Thompson as a long-term substitute for Amy Wild;
ï approved a maternity leave for Becky Newgaard;
ï approved winter coaching contracts;
ï approved the hiring of Patti Correll-Syring as a parent educator in the ECFE/LR department. She will take over some duties of Mary Lou Busta so the hiring will not be an additional expense.
Public hearing dates
for upcoming referendum
ï Tuesday, October 23, Brownsville Community Center
ï Thursday, October 25, Caledonia MS/HS Auditorium
ï Tuesday, October 30, Eitzen Community Center
ï Thursday, November 1, Crook-ed Creek Community Center.
The meetings start at 7:30.
The election is November 6.
Caledonia Argus
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