USD 257 will take a timeout on pursuing a soccer program for Iola High School. Board of education members continued their discussion of adding the program at their Monday night meeting. In other news
The members said the soccer presentation from Brek Ulrich at their previous board meeting was informational and noted the support by soccer players and their parents.
“We have a couple of options with the soccer discussion,” Jack Koehn, superintendent of schools, said. “We can continue to pursue it or take a wait and see.”
Paying for the program was a main concern.
“When we’ve put in a program in the past we’ve done it first class and if we are going to do this program we need to do it right,” board member Buck Quincy said.
Quincy also noted finances for schools remain limited. During the soccer presentation Ulrich suggested having community members and businesses financially support the program. Koehn said this method is unstable and could cause problems down the road if the money stopped coming in.
“I’d actually like to see a soccer program but I agree with Buck. I want to see what happens in Topeka,” board member Darrell Catron said.
Adding programs always comes with risk, Koehn said. Interest may be high at first but may not continue.
“Brek Ulrich has done a heck of a job with this program but I’d hate to see it deteriorate,” Quincy said.
Martin Bambick, athletic director, said it could take a few years to get on a schedule with other schools. Some schools are not expressing interest in adding another sport.
The board agreed they are interested in the program but want to wait on adding it to the athletics department.
— Erin Luman was hired as a SAFEBASE paraprofressional.
— Pat Lonergan resigned at assistant track coach.
Iola will stall on high school soccer
