Hamilton School Board considers cooperative sports for jr. high

The Hamilton School Board approved renewal of high school cooperative sports for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years.

Hamilton and Warsaw high schools co-op all sports together as the West Hancock Titans. The previous third partner district, Nauvoo-Colusa, deactivated its high school a year ago and those students are part of Warsaw High School.

Hamilton is the administrative district for boys and girls golf, boys and girls cross country, football, girls basketball and baseball.

Warsaw is the administrative district for volleyball, boys basketball, wrestling, boys and girls track, and softball.

The Warsaw School Board approved the same renewal agreement last month.

At Hamilton's Aug. 19 school board meeting, parent John Fox talked to the board and administrators about junior high sports.

“I have some concerns about our sports programs, baseball in particular,” said Fox.

“At the end of school last year, three seventh grade boys indicated they would play. In our third week of practice now, the most players we've had is seven until just yesterday (Aug. 18) when 10 boys showed up.

“We should have the numbers to field a team,” said Fox. “What I'm seeing is a decrease in the number of kids going out for sports. There is decreased commitment on the part of students and parents.

“I'd like to pursue going with a junior high sports co-op,” he said. “I want people to be aware of this problem and I don't think it is going away.”

A baseball team has nine players on the field in a game. A comfortable roster would have at least 15 players to give back-up and relief to other players, especially pitchers.

“I think a junior high co-op would benefit Hamilton and other schools,” said Fox. “At the end of Little League season, there was an All-Star team that had players from Hamilton, Warsaw and Nauvoo-Colusa schools. Only two were from Hamilton. These kids are going to play on the same team in high school. Let's get them to know one another now.”

Fox has a fifth grade son playing baseball.

“It would be nice to be competitive,” he said. “As parents of players, I hope the situation gets better. Junior high boys basketball also could use more players.”

Hamilton School Board President Mark Menn said there have been talks previously with administrators about co-oping junior high sports.

“One intention of the board is to let junior high kids have the opportunity to play and not be so competitive,” said Menn.

“But 11 signed up for baseball and only on one day did 10 players show up at practice,” said Fox. “At pitching, there's concern. You need depth.”

Asked about the boys basketball team, Fox said there were enough players last year.

“This year, eighth grade has only two basketball players,” said Fox. “And having a good sports program can attract people to the community.”

Board member Doug Summers said Nauvoo-Colusa Junior High has contacted Hamilton about boys basketball.

“I know Superintendent Dr. Jim Jackson has been working on this,” said Menn. “Now is the time to work on next year.”

Jackson said he's had preliminary conversations about junior high sports.

The board authorized Jackson to pursue exploring a junior high sports co-op.

Enrollment numbers

Hamilton Elementary Principal David Snowden said 26 new students registered for school and preliminary enrollment numbers from registration show 309 students in grades K-6. Pre-K has 40-plus students, he said.

“We ended up with 363 students last year. I fully expect to get back up there. There's always students coming in the first week of classes.

“We added six sixth graders who came over from the Keokuk Christian Academy.”

Seven special education students from Warsaw, who attended classes at Hamilton last year, are attending school in Warsaw this year.

Junior high/high school Principal Ron Gilbert said he had 295 students last year and has 305 students this year.

New link for parents

The district purchased Lumens software this summer. It will replace three or four other software systems used in the district for tracking grades, statistics and more.

“It's important for the public to know that parents will be able to get online and see their own student's assignments and grades,” said Menn. “They can check dates of activities and the lunch menu.

“This is one way we're helping parents to follow their student's school life.”

Gilbert will notify parents when the system is available for community use.

One drawback to the new system, it is not compatible with the lunch fingerprint tracking system.

“We'll have to find a new fingerprint program,” said Gilbert.