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Elementary track athletes in Warsaw schools may have a shortened season this year after a decision made by the schools' principals.
According to parent Steve Truman, who spoke at Monday's Warsaw school board meeting, the number of track meets was cut from four to three, and the all-school city track meet was eliminated. "Three meets - that really isn't enough to have a decent season for the elementary kids to participate in," he said.
There has been a city meet for more than 40 years, he said. "It would be a shame to see that go by the wayside."
He asked the board to reinstate the regular and city track meets.
School Superintendent Dr. Dave McGuire said the elementary principals met last summer and fall to discuss elementary varsity sports. They reinstated the all-city basketball tournament and extended the soccer and volleyball seasons, while cutting the track meets.
McGuire said he supports the principals' right to make the change.
"It's a case of site-based management," he said. If the board second-guesses each decision, he said, it would undermine the principals' authority.
"When the principals made the decision, was the public, were the parents informed?" asked board member Deb Wiggins.
No, McGuire said. The principals wanted to extend the volleyball and soccer seasons.
"What's that have to do with track?" Wiggins asked.
"You have a group of dedicated principals that this board hired to make those decisions," said Sandra Hess, assistant superintendent.
One of the reasons the season was shortened, Truman said, was that the electronic timer is gone. Warsaw Community High School's athletic director, Dave Fulkerson, had offered the use of the high school's for free, and WCHS boys and girls track coaches volunteered to help run the city-wide meet.
Board member Larry Chamberlain said he was uncomfortable at the board reversing a decision made by the principals, but suggested that in light of new information and the willingness of the public to get involved, that the principals reconsider their decision.
"We're constantly being told that the school corporation wants the parents involved and then they do things like this without involving the parents," said Dan Robinson, board member.
"Every decision involves the kids," McGuire replied. "Do you want the board to have to be involved in every decision that they make? How do we determine which ones to come to the board with" and which decisions to make without board involvement?
"Maybe it's up to the board to decide yes, the parents should be involved, and when the administration should make the decision," Wiggins said.
At one point in the year the city basketball tournament was canceled and then reinstated, Truman said. "How did that happen?"
"Fulkerson promised his support," McGuire said.
"He promised support for track, too," Truman said.
Wiggins made a motion that "because the issue was brought to the attention of the board, that the board ask the school principals to collaborate with Fulkerson to reconsider their decision and then the final decision be brought back to the board so the board knows what decision was made and the rationale for it."
The motion passed.
"This decision didn't have anything to do with the convenience of the principals, it had to do with what was good for the kids," McGuire said.
Robinson responded: "How can doing away with this program be good for the kids?"
