Published: January 09, 2009 12:57 pm      

Vote will come next month on adding football at Henryville Middle School

After months of community input from those urging the West Clark Community Schools board to consider starting a football program in Henryville Middle School, a vote may finally come next month.

At Thursday night’s school board meeting, two board members out of five were absent. Teresa Guthrie was stuck in Ohio because of weather conditions there and Doug Coffman had to work. However, Sandy Furnish Banet, board president, told those who packed the school board room to standing room only that this issue will be voted on at February’s meeting.

Just before her comment, two people addressed the board, asking for the program to be started. One, Linda Uhl, is quite a regular, speaking on the subject at many of the previous meetings. Though each time she tries to give the board some new information — such as polls of students who wish to participate — this time she said she was out.

Uhl told the board that the support is out there and the program will pay for itself through a booster club. The group even has a football field that they can use for free. She said if for some reason the football program fails, the board would lose nothing.

“I don’t see a downside. I see opportunity, upon opportunity, upon opportunity,” Uhl told the board.

A pilot middle school football program started at Silver Creek Middle School about two years ago, according to Furnish Banet. Perry McCall was one of those people who petitioned the board for the move.

“You can just see the community coming together,” he told the board, referring to the football games. “And it all started with a vote. You voted and we came through for you. Now, we’re asking you to give that opportunity to the [Henryville] middle school.”

Furnish Banet said she didn’t feel it was fair to vote on the issue with two board members absent, especially since it hasn’t been discussed as a board. She also said this needs to be on the agenda first.

Per her request, Superintendent Monty Schneider said he would add it to the agenda for Feb. 12.

Also at the meeting

• The board started the meeting by recognizing Herman Miller, who served as the corporation’s first superintendent. Miller worked in that position from 1968 to 1990. The board presented him with a framed certificate and roses for his dedication and service.

Schneider said Miller was one of his mentors.

“I feel very fortunate that I have been able to be here and be in his office,” Schneider said.

Miller’s wife and two children also came to the meeting.

“I’m very proud of my dad’s accomplishments,” Steve Miller, Herman’s son, told the board and audience. “It wasn’t just school to him. It was his third child.”

Herman Miller said this meeting was his first school board session in 32 years.

• The board also heard a construction update on the corporation’s various school-improvement projects. Larry Timperman, with Michell, Timperman and Ritz Architects, told the board that the early education center is in the construction documents phase. He said he is still collecting more input on what details are wanted in the facility.

Timperman said he believes that it will be another two to three months until the project is ready to be bid out. However, Timperman is optimistic of the feedback the school system will receive at that time, which he believes will help to keep costs lower.

“I would expect we would have a tremendous amount of interest in this project,” he told the board.

• The next school board meeting is set for Feb. 12. However, the board will have a study session Jan. 15. The board will take no final action during that meeting.