NORTH MANCHESTER - Pleas to reinstate male cheerleader lifters were heard at Manchester's Tuesday night school board meeting.

Yvonne Byers, the mother of a former lifter, spoke to the board, saying male lifters are an important part of the cheer team. They raise morale for all participants, she said.

She also noted that lifting is a very low-cost sport. There are no equipment or coach costs and participation has traditionally been high at Manchester High School.

The only cost for a lifting squad is the price of sectional tickets and transportation costs, which Byers said her family would donate if lifters are reinstated.

Board member Larry Miller reminded the board of the safety factor involved with lifting, noting that high school lifters are not always trained well enough to ensure the girls' safety. He recalled stunts where girls were thrown and lifters missed or nearly missed catching them.

The board will investigate the request and hopes to have an answer soon, as basketball season is ready to begin.

In other business:

• A representative of Riverbridge Electric announced that the school will be recommended for approval of its lighting retrofit Thursday. The corporation plans to re-do lighting in the two elementary schools in order to become more energy efficient.

• Nancy Alspaugh, high school principal, announced that Manchester's new drug testing program is progressing better than expected. The school, which was chosen to participate in a study by the Institute for Behavior and Health, recently learned that all drug testing and drug education supplies will be paid for by a grant from the institute for three years.

She also said that a doctor involved in drug testing of Olympic athletes will visit Manchester, speaking to coaches and athletes.

Manchester school board members are Sally Krouse, president, Todd Speicher, Thom Frantz, Kent Terrill, Larry Miller, Carlye McLaughlin and Brad Perrot. Superintendent is Diane Showalter and business manager is Pat Brandenburg. [[In-content Ad]]