Recommendations made to school board for sports sharing with Aurelia

Alta's School Athletic Director Terri Zimmerman made recommendations to the Alta School Board Monday for fall sport's sharing which she and Aurelia's Athletic Director Grant Peckenschneider have discussed with high school principals Tom Ryherd and Ann Sandine.

Those discussions have been very positive, she said.

The ADs are recommending the two schools begin sharing as early as this summer with baseball; numbers are strong enough for each softball teams to stand alone.

It is important that the two boards approve the recommendation as the state requires a declaration by March 1 if sharing will take place.

Zimmerman said that currently there are two coaches from each district and none of them are in the school system. Coaches will be determined as quickly as the boards draw up and sign a contract.

Practices and games would be held in Alta. It is being recommended that transportation be provided for the Aurelia participants to Alta.

Football cheerleading was discussed. Alta's cheerleading sponsor is currently Colleen Schwanz. She has already expressed interest to continue serving as the sponsor. Zimmerman said Aurelia's sponsor may not be returning next year but if there are two people interested one will be selected.

On Monday, Schwanz and Zimmerman will be going to Aurelia for a "meet and greet" for all the girls interested in wanting to be a cheerleader. Tryouts will be held in March; there will be eight cheerleaders for the varsity squad and eight for the junior varsity squad. Zimmerman added that Buena Vista University cheerleaders will be helping out by coming up with chants for the new squads.

It was added that the cheerleaders will have the opportunity to do fundraising and possibly raise enough money to purchase new uniforms. "There is no guarantee that there will be new uniforms," she said. Zimmerman said there is no hurry for new uniforms for the first football season; the current Alta and Aurelia uniforms could be utilized, one school's outfit for the varsity cheerleaders, the other for the junior varsity cheerleaders.

It is the recommendation of both ADs that varsity volleyball remain separate for this year due to the large numbers of participants anticipated at each school.

Junior high volleyball, on the other hand, is being recommended to be shared. Games and practices would be in Alta as Aurelia's varsity squad would be utilizing the gym for their games and practices. Practices could be held at the Alta High School gym with all games at the middle school gym to allow for two games - and more playing time for the girls - to occur at the same time.

The ADs recommend that the junior high girls volleyball participants ride the bus with the varsity football players to Alta.

Zimmerman said there is no concern about purchasing new uniforms that t-shirts and shorts be worn for this year.

Junior high football is also being recommended to be shared with practices and games to be held in Aurelia.

Zimmerman said that Alta's pants can be used and mesh jerseys will be worn.

She added that all football equipment must go through an inspection each year to make sure it is all legal and safe. Last year's inspection indicated that the football helmets can only be used one more year.

A contract has already been signed by both boards for football sharing in the fall. As indicated in the contract, all district games will be held in Alta. The contract, which also indicated that two non-district games would be held in Aurelia, will be amended. While there are two non-district games, one of them is on the road. The amended contract will state that one non-district game will be held in Aurelia.

The current football coaches for Alta and Aurelia have indicated that they would like to have five coaches for the combined team. The coaches, Zimmerman said, "are chomping at the bit" and would like to know who will be filling those positions. She added that they will work quickly to give some answers. Anyone wishing to be a coach will need to apply or reapply for the varsity positions; Alta's junior high coaches will be terminated because the program will be in Aurelia but can apply for positions.

With an estimated 60-65 guys participating in football, she told the board that for the first season, the team could wear Cyclone gear but additional gear to outfit everyone would be necessary or new jerseys could be purchased with the new team logo could be ordered.

"Football could be our big kick-off," Zimmerman said, recommending that new jerseys and pants be purchased.

She added that $3,000 could be spent to recondition the current helmets that would only last another year or $7,000 could be spent for new helmets that could be used for several years.

The cost of the away jerseys, new pants, shoulder pads and helmets for the team is approximately $13,000.

"That's a huge chunk but we can start fresh," she said.

Home jerseys, she added, are normally purchased by parents and allow the kids to keep their jerseys. She suggested that the boys do community service projects to come up with money to purchase the home jerseys so that parents do not have to.

Because Aurelia is not anticipating any cross country participants, Alta will remain alone; if there are Aurelia students who wish to participate, the ADs agreed there probably wouldn't be a problem allowing them on to the team.

Homecoming arrangements were also recommended to the board.

The two schools would maintain separate Homecoming courts and coronation will be held together at Alta with two kings and queens selected. A Homecoming parade will be held in Alta with both communities having the opportunity to take part. An all-school pep rally and a Homecoming dance will be held in Alta.

The two ADs will work up details on winter sports sharing. Contracts on the sharing of these sports are being asked to be drawn up and approved by the boards as soon as possible.

Additional information was shared by board member Greg Kueny and Tom Ryherd on discussions held with Alta's board member Dave Turnquist had with two Aurelia board members and principal.

The students' votes for the team mascot and team colors were revealed. The Warriors received 139 votes and The Avengers received 52. Red and navy will be the school colors.

"The students never considered Bulldogs or Cyclones," Ryherd said. "This is a whole new avenue."

Booster club members from each school have already gotten together.

Another big issue that will need to be decided soon is the superintendent position. Currently Aurelia is sharing a superintendent with Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn. It is unsure if he will continue with the position but the board wants to be prepared with an answer if Aurelia comes to them and asks if Superintendent Fred Maharry be shared. Because Supt. Maharry is also serving as elementary principal, there may be issues. Principals and the number of each that is necessary will also continue to be discussed.

Another issue that was discussed was the name - Alta- Aurelia was suggested by an Aurelia board member to be used for the high school and middle school. Earlier discussions suggested the middle school be known as Aurelia-Alta and the high school be known as Alta-Aurelia. The one name would alleviate confusion as the students move up to high school.

During the next two-on-two board meeting, Kueny said, the whole grade sharing contract will be discussed.

"We are all on the same page," he said. "There is very little disagreement.