The Snowflake School District Governing Board unanimously approved the reinstatement of the Snowflake High School (SHS) cross country team as a funded sport at the meeting on Sept. 13.
Superintendent Hollis Merrell said it was about nine years ago that the district ceased to fund the sport due to there being only two runners on the team.
But as Lynn Johnson, the head coach for cross country, noted to the board, “This year we have 41 students participating. It’s a huge tribute to these kids as this is a hard program. I think they are the best athletes in the school. What they are asked to do every day to train for the meets is daunting for a high school student.”
Johnson went to say that looking into the future, when he is no longer the coach, he recommends that the board find a person who is passionate about the sport. “The coach should want to do this because they love it, not because they get extra money.”
Johnson also recommended that the cross country program be started at the junior high level. “Blue Ridge, Payson, Winslow and Holbrook all have a cross country program in their junior high and high schools.”
Board Member Shea Flake said he remembered how hard it was when the board had to make the decision nine years to stop the funding. Hollis agreed, and added, “It gives a place for students that aren’t involved in a lot of other sports something to be a part of.”
Snowflake High School Principal Larry Titus said, “I would rather have the kids running around town instead of running from town.”
Maeser Flake and Samantha Rencher, both juniors at SHS and members of the marching band approached the board regarding the need for new band uniforms.
Maeser said, “Our current band uniforms are not the Lobo Blue color plus they are getting old and not functioning well. They have stains and ripped parts.” Maeser went on to share that the band does a lot of performing around the area, representing the high school.
Merrill addressed the students saying that a proposal needed to be brought to him. “When we get the proposal, we will review it and go from there. We appreciate what you do as a band and would be happy to have a proposal.”
In other business, the board:
* Approved the SHS chaperone pay for weekend and Friday night events.
* Approved for first reading the Arizona School Board Association Policy Advisory.
* Approved the following new employees: Alizabeth Shaw, Snowflake Intermediate School paraprofessional; Ashlynn Isaacs, Snowflake Junior High School (SJHS) reading teacher; Heather Tucker, SHS color guard coach; Kalysta Isaacs, Highland Primary School paraprofessional; Katerina Difatta, Taylor Intermediate School paraprofessional; Michelle Petersen, Snowflake Intermediate School fourth grade teacher; and Shelby Cook, Taylor Elementary paraprofessional.
* Accepted resignations from the following: Cody Thomas, SJHS girls basketball coach; Michelle Solomon, SHS health tech; Michael Parkes, SJHS English teacher; and Nicole Musgrove, Taylor Elementary paraprofessional.
* Approved Karl Collett as an SJHS volunteer.
* Approved the SJHS fundraiser, which includes concession sales, T-shirt sales, butter braid sales and hat days.
The next meeting of the governing board will be at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11, at the District Office Conference Room at 682 School Bus Lane in Snowflake.
