USD 235 officials to discuss adding baseball, softball

USD 235 officials are set to discuss the possible implementation of two new athletic programs in the Uniontown district.

During the regular Monday meeting, the USD 235 Board of Education is scheduled to hear a report from Uniontown Junior Senior High School Principal Tracy Smith on costs and possible procedures associated with adding both a baseball program and a softball program to the small Bourbon County district.

USD 235 currently fields a high school football team, boys' and girls' basketball teams, boys 'and girls' golf teams, a volleyball team, and a track team. A baseball and softball program are two sports the district has discussed over the years, but are still lacking, Smith said.

Smith said he was asked by USD 235 Superintendent Randy Rockhold to present the information to the board and the public for discussion, which he will do on Monday.

"I'm just talking about start-up costs and what it would take to build a ballfield and put these programs together," he said.

Rockhold said the issue is an information item only on the board's agenda, in order to allow the board and the public time to review the procedure for putting the programs in place before the board takes any action. USD 235 administration is also trying to gauge public interest in the matter.

"We have not had baseball or softball and are interested in seeing what our patrons desire relative to this issue," Rockhold said. "It is a general discussion item and no action will be taken."

The addition of both programs was originally discussed by the board in 1994, and then again during the 1997-98 school year, but the district has never fielded a baseball or softball team during his long tenure with the district, Smith said. USD 235 does field interscholastic baseball and softball teams during the spring and summer months, he said.

West Bourbon Elementary School teacher Jackie Hall, who also serves as the UJSHS volleyball and track coach, echoed Smith's comments, stressing the importance of the new athletic programs to the district.

"It's always been talked about, but we've never had one in the 20 some years I've been here," Hall said. "We want to let people discuss it."