(Spirit Lake)– A public input meeting held by the Spirit Lake and Okoboji school boards Wednesday evening to talk about the possibility of sharing football drew a large crowd to the Spirit Lake High School gym.
Several advantages of sharing were pointed out, including the fact younger kids would be able to play in their respective age groups. Among the concerns were those expressed by booster clubs and how their fundraising would be impacted.
Proponents of sharing pointed to the success the two districts have already had in sharing programs such as soccer, tennis and debate.
Others say the two districts appear to be rushing into the matter. The state has set December 1st as the date to hear from any districts planning to share programs in the upcoming fiscal year. Otherwise, the earliest they could consider it again would be two years from now, due to re-districting by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. One man who spoke at Wednesday’s meeting urged the two schools to wait another two years, saying such a decision is too big to make in such a short period of time. By waiting two years, the man said the two districts could better address the issues that as of right now remain unanswered.
Asked whether there will be another public meeting on the matter, Spirit Lake Superintendent Doug Latham said it will depend on the outcome of a survey that was taken at Wednesday evening’s meeting along with a poll that will be conducted among players of both teams. He says the two school boards will then decide whether to pursue additional talks at that point.
