Manchester Schools Considers Reviving Cross Country
Posted
Jen Gibson-jgibson@timesuniononline.com
NORTH MANCHESTER - Cross country may return to Manchester Junior/Senior High School in the fall.
Although the matter was tabled at Tuesday night's meeting, members of the Manchester School Board discussed a proposal to bring cross country back to the school as a club sport.
Cross country was a team sport a few years ago, but the sport was dropped due to a lack of interest.
According to MHS Principal Nancy Alspaugh, the club sport is being proposed because students requested it."Interest for this came from students and staff members," said Alspaugh.
The question now is how to handle the sport. Alspaugh said it is a unique situation since the school already had a cross country team sport. At this point, she said, she was treating it as a new sport.
"We want to start small to make sure we have a solid program first," said Alspaugh. "Since it is a club team it will operate outside the bounds of the athletic office with volunteer coaches."
The club team would be able to participate in IHSAA events at other schools, but will not be eligible to host an IHSAA competition.
School board members had questions about the proposal, so Alspaugh and Athletic Director Kyle Wieland will research information and revisit the issue at the next school board meeting.
The board also elected officers for the next year. Sally Krouse will remain president, and Todd Speicher and Kent Terrill will remain vice president and secretary, respectively.
Kendra Miller will remain corporation treasurer with Melissa Shepherd as her assistant. Al Schlitt will remain the school attorney.
Jan Fahs will serve as the Manchester Community Schools representative on the Heartland Career Center Board, while Brian Schilling will represent MCS on the park and recreation board.
The board members approved a motion to keep their rate of pay the same.
In other business, the board:
n Approved the 2009-10 school calendar.
n Approved a professional leave request for Marilyn Mason to attend the Indiana Choral Directors Association July 17-18 at the University of Indianapolis.
n Approved the hiring of Eric Augustus, Manchester Junior High School administrative assistant; Ryan Good, wrestling coach at MJSHS; Whitney Geesaman, second-grade teacher at Manchester Elementary School; Kelliemarie Sorg, math teacher at MJSHS; Dorey Bungitak, girls golf coach at MJSHS; Michelle Smith, assistant cheer sponsor, MJSHS; Michelle Bucher, volunteer assistant girls golf coach, MJSHS; Alyssa Mobley, paid assistant cheer coach, MJSHS; and Megan Long, P.E./health teacher, MJSHS.
n Accepted the resignations of Troy Leach, P.E./health teacher at MJSHS; Melissa Curless, fourth-grade teacher at MES; and Aaron Butcher, assistant varsity basketball coach at MJSHS.
n Approved the textbook rental fees for the high school.
n Approved a change in the morning kindergarten fees. The fee for morning kindergarten will be $61.51, while full-day kindergarten will cost $71.84. Morning kindergarten students will not participate in art or music so the fees were reduced.
Manchester School board members are Krouse, president; Speicher; Fahs; Schilling; Steve Lambert; Terrill and Steve Flack. Superintendent is Dr. Diana Showalter. Lambert and Flack were absent from Tuesday's meeting.
