Marion BOE gives go-ahead in search for new league
Agreeing that being proactive is the best approach, the Marion/Florence USD 408 Board of Education gave administrators the go-ahead Monday night to search for a new league affiliation.
Gerry Henderson, superintendent of schools, said it appeared likely that both Herington and Council Grove would vote that evening to affiliate with another league.
That would leave Marion along with two private Wichita schools, Trinity and Independent, and Sacred Heart in Salina as members of the Cottonwood Valley League (CVL).
In the search for a new league, Henderson indicated district coaching staff is interested in affiliating with the league to the west, the MCAA (Mid-Central Activities Association).
Henderson said MCAA members would be meeting in a week. He, along with administrators Ken Arnhold and Tod Gordon, felt there was a good possibility Marion would be invited to attend the group's January meeting.
"There's a good chance we'll be invited in January to tell what we can bring to the league," he said.
Currently, the MCAA includes Hillsboro, Hesston, Halstead, Lyons, Wichita Collegiate, Smoky Valley (Lindsborg), Haven, Ellinwood, Sterling, and Nickerson.
Since football assignments are on a two-year contract, the CVL would remain intact through next year. However, a new league has to be found soon because football assignments for 2004 and 2005 will be announced next fall.
Gordon, Marion Middle School principal and district activities director, said he wanted to be sitting around a league table by next October.
"No matter where we go, we'll be on the edge (distance-wise)," Gordon said.
"The last thing I want is for the activities association (Kansas State High School Activities Association or KSHSAA) to decide what league we're in," Henderson said.
Gordon said he was told that KSHSAA did not have to place a school in a league. Arnhold said he understood there was a minimum one-year wait before KSHSAA would place a school.
Henderson told the board he wanted the district to be proactive in actively seeking out a league affiliation.
"We need to do what's best for our kids and I believe that's out west (with MCAA)," Henderson said.
The board gave their verbal approval to lobby the MCAA for placement.
During a phone conversation Tuesday, Henderson said schools all across the state are looking for new league affiliations.
"This has been precipitated statewide by the drop in enrollment," he said.
For instance, Marion played schools in Peabody, Remington, and Herington for years. Now, those districts are 2A schools, while Marion retains its 3A classification.
Schools across the state are facing the same problem, making the leagues — comprised of similar size schools which have existed for years — less competitive for some districts and too competitive for others.
"It used to be we were in the middle of all the schools we played. Now, we're going to be on the far-edge of whatever league we're in," Henderson said.
In other matters, the board:
— Heard an insurance renewal update and reports on holding students accountable and mandatory learning.
— Heard a report from third grade teachers, Beth Schubert, Sheila Baldwin and Julie Trapp, about third grade benchmarks and assessments.
— Approved a book fair for a forensics fundraiser and a soup supper for a FCCLA fundraiser.
— Voted to allow a Centre student to practice on the district's pole vault facility.
— Granted a sewer easement on the Marion Elementary School grounds.
— Hired Julie Trapp to serve as after-school program coordinator.
