THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 10, 1995 TAG: 9508100470
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
After an hourlong verbal scrimmage, the Dare County Board of Education approved interscholastic football for First Flight Middle School.
The school will begin play in the 1996-97 academic year. The board approved the action, 4-2, with board chairman Virginia Tillett abstaining. Board members Loretta Michael and Donna Buxton voted against the move.
Establishing football will have no impact on the existing athletic programs at First Flight Middle School. Nine students from First Flight currently play on the Manteo Middle School football team.
School board member David Daniels led the charge to establish a football program at the school. He said that surveys of students at First Flight indicated widespread support for a football program.
``We have to give the kids who want to play football an opportunity to play,'' said Daniels. ``And when we look at building another high school on the beach, they have to have a feeder program.''
Board members opposed to the proposal questioned the potential cost of establishing a football program at the middle school. Uniforms and equipment cost about $300 per player.
``I think saying we're going to do this without knowing what it's going to cost is not very responsible,'' Buxton said.
Buxton also questioned the validity of the school's athletics survey.
``I think the survey was flawed,'' she said. ``It basically asked, `Do you want cake or ice cream or both? ' I think more parents favor soccer over football.''
But Board Member Fletcher Willey said football would give the school a greater sense of identity.
``We're increasing the students' opportunity to participate in a sport that builds character and builds school spirit,'' Willey said. ``There are some students who will stay in school because their athletic talent is given an opportunity to grow.''
Prior to the vote, Buxton issued a word of caution to her fellow board members.
``I wonder if we're voting for the children or for some of our board members,'' she said.
In other action, the board unanimously approved the system's $7 million budget for the 1995-96 school year. Superintendent Leon Holleman said that because of expanding enrollment and cuts in state funding, it will be a tight year financially for the school district.
At the end of the 1994-95 school year, 764 students were enrolled at Manteo High School. Already, 930 students are registered for 1995-96.
Holleman said that in order to manage class sizes, art and musicteachers may be called upon to teach other classes. ``If they're certified, we may have to look at that,'' Holleman said.
The board also reviewed possible changes in the attendance policy. The new policy, if adopted, would reduce the number of allowed excused absences and remove grade incentives for good attendance.
The board also endorsed efforts to obtain the old Hatteras Island weather station in Buxton as an educational facility for the school system. Board member Allen Burrus said he is exploring avenues to obtain the facility at no cost to the school board, through state and federal funding.
``The uses of this are limited only by our imagination,'' said Assistant Superintendent Gene Gallelli. ``This can be a tremendous resource for our students.'' by CNB