Baseball, softball program proposals debated at USD 235

UNIONTOWN -- USD 235 Parents, teachers, and even board members voiced their opinions during a debate concerning athletics and academics on Monday evening.

About 15 teachers and other local residents attended the USD 235 Board of Education meeting to share views about the district's proposal to add both a baseball and softball team as district athletic programs in the near future.

Both programs have been discussed in the district over the years, but neither has ever been implemented. At the request of USD 235 Superintendent Randy Rockhold, Uniontown Junior Senior High School Principal Tracy Smith gave a presentation Monday that outlined costs and procedures associated with constructing new ball fields and putting the programs in place.

District officials are currently only discussing the proposal but have not taken any action. During his presentation, Smith said the approximate total cost of equipment, coaches and other staff for the new programs could possibly be between $25,000 and $30,000.

Other estimates Smith obtained show that a new softball field could cost about $80,000 with the installation of lights at that field costing between $40,000 and $240,000. Building a new sports complex that would house both he baseball and softball programs could cost between $200,000 and $250,000, Smith said.

In response to one area resident's concern about whether or not other athletic programs in the district would be cut if the baseball and softball programs are added, Rockhold said he did not recall any information being discussed that would lead to funding cuts in other athletic programs.

Local residents Lori Stephens, Dana Esslinger and Mary Ridge, all of whom have young children attending school in USD 235, were present at the meeting to offer differing views on the implementation of the new athletic programs. Ridge said that baseball and softball were not as difficult for the kids to get involved in as some other sports.

"The kids are interested," Ridge said. "This is a sport most anybody can play and feel good about themselves."

Esslinger, whose son is involved in athletics, said adding the sports would present additional scholarship opportunities for high school students.

"Ask the kids if they want it," Esslinger told the board. "We have some quality students. It will help those students get (athletic) scholarships. We have a ton of kids who would be interested."

Stephens, a teacher in Moran, provided a contrasting view, saying that district money should be placed into education before being spent on athletics. Stephens said USD 235 is not big enough to add two additional sports.

"We're a 2-A school," she said. "We just don't have the numbers. Let's look at West Bourbon (Elementary School). They need a full-time librarian. Reading and math are our priorities. We have a solid educational facility here (Uniontown). I'd rather have a strong school base. I don't understand; we can't pay teachers, but we can have baseball and softball. Let's look inside our buildings, not outside. The kids will get academic scholarships.

"Let's start a science program; let's not start another sport. It is long range, but you have to look at this," Stephens told the board.

Uniontown resident Randy Rathbun asked Rockhold when a ball field could possibly be built, because the new programs will be more beneficial to young WBE students moving on to junior and senior high school.

"Ask those kids across the street because the high school kids won't be around long enough," Rathbun said.

UJSHS track coach and WBE instructor Jackie Hall said she had a rather biased viewpoint, since the addition of the new athletic programs would most likely hurt the district's track program.

"Athletics is the other part of education," Hall said. "You will take away the track program. Sure we'll have one or two kids out there but our kids are already spread so thin. Kids are already failing classes. More sports would add games and hurt kids. We're struggling to keep the field for track. It's hard when you jerk kids out of class because they're failing subjects. I understand both sides of it."

Hall added, "You didn't talk to coaches, teachers or students about this. We don't have the staff. It would be very disappointing to lose our track program. Teachers hate the spring, because kids are gone every day of the week."

Local resident Sabrina Wilkinson, who teaches in the district, also attended the meeting to share her opinion, putting academics before athletics.

"Their (students) brains will get them farther than their bodies," she said. "I challenge you to visit the classroom and see what goes on there for yourselves," Wilkinson told the board. "A better incentive for kids (student-athletes) would be to check their grades every week and if they're failing, bench them."

After nearly an hour of discussion by the public on the matter, it was then the board's turn to address the matter. Board member Jeff Tinsley said he appreciated hearing both sides of the issue, but that many people with viewpoints on the matter did not attend the Monday meeting because they were not able to. A more fair solution would be to hear feedback from everyone who wishes to comment on the matter before further discussion, Tinsley said.

Board member Jodi McKinnis reminded everyone in attendance that this was most likely the first of several meetings, and that the board would not take immediate action on implementing the new programs.

"This is just the beginning," she said. "We're not deciding tonight. What bothers me is the hostility I've seen here tonight. We want to hear your views, we're just here to listen."

"We want to use athletics to promote academics," board president Joe Warren said before the issue was finally tabled for a future meeting.

In other business Monday, the board addressed the following:

* WBE Principal Marianna Daugherty said school officials are using a new program for special education students that provides a variety of interventions teachers can use when dealing with disabled or mentally challenged students. Officials will plot student achievement each week and determine if those students are meeting their goals and whether or not they need special education services, Daugherty said.

* Approved a resolution, in accordance with state law, to reapportion the six board member districts to ensure that the mean population of each district does not vary more than five percent. The proposed changes will balance the population in each district out, creating a variance of only 2 percent. State law requires that each district population be as compact and equal as possible.

* Hired Erin Eldridge as an assistant girls' basketball coach.

After a brief executive session, the board later adjourned with no further action.