BEDFORD — Bedford County Public Schools is reviewing a proposed policy that would allow the division’s three high schools to add or remove sports and activities.
Principals at the high schools, through the policy, could recommend adding a Virginia High School League sport or activity if it meets certain factors. If Superintendent Douglas Schuch agreed, he would forward the recommendation to the Bedford County School Board as part of his annual schools budget proposal.
The factors he would weigh include having enough student interest, facilities and staffing capabilities and no negative impact on existing sports or activities.
Finding a procedure for adding sports and activities was among a “to-do list” for the division, Schuch said Thursday during the board’s meeting.
“This is just a guideline,” Schuch said of the policy, adding that it also lets principals recommend removing a sport or activity in the same procedure. “We would be clear in communicating to you all what the cost would be.”
While debating the policy Thursday, several school board members mentioned giving the three high schools “a pot” of money and letting them decide on sports and activities.
Another topic raised during the discussion was broadening activities to those not included through the VHSL and providing “start-up costs” to schools for a new sport or activity.
“We do know there are different interests across the county,” school board member Debbie Hoback said. “There was discussion of band, of wrestling, of Future Farmers (of America) ... I want to make sure if students want to do something in extracurricular activities, we have a wide variety of choices.”
School board members agreed Thursday to discuss the policy further at a later date and directed Schuch to continue working on it. No one spoke for or against the policy during a public comment session earlier in the evening.
Also Thursday, the board voted to allow influenza vaccinations at no cost for division employees upon request.
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