Guthrie’s Board of Education has added volleyball to the list of high school athletic sports, following the decision last May to set up the sport at the junior high level.
Athletic Director Jon Chappell made the recommendation after gathering student surveys and gauging interest.
He would like the girls program to compete in junior varsity action for the 2023-2024 season before transitioning to varsity matches in 2024.
“As we have had success with our junior high program, and that interest appears to be growing in the community, Mr. (Doug) Ogle, and myself, and Mr. Chappell have had extensive discussions, and I have also had discussions with some of the parents,” Superintendent Mike Simpson said.
“The idea is that we would have a freshman or JV schedule next year, and not varsity (yet).”
He added: “As those young ladies move up through the program, we would consider adding varsity probably next year (2024). The idea is to allow them to continue to grow the program, and not place them in a position where they might not have success at the highest level of volleyball, which is highly competitive, until we can get our program off the ground.
“I think that is the best course of action to maintain interest in the program, and it also allows us to grow with the program in regards to our facilities and expenditures within the athletic department.”
In his superintendent remarks, Simpson announced the district’s school site teachers of the year.
Earning honors for elementary school sites: Sherryl Green, second-grade teacher at Fogarty; Kelly Wells, a third-grade teacher at Cotteral; Harley Lovato, a special education teacher at Central; and Genie Myers, a library media specialist at Charter Oak Elementary.
Secondary school site winners were: Keith Blackston, math interventionist at GUESS; Tina Ogle, forensic sciences teacher at Guthrie Junior High; Clay Drake, agricultural education teacher at Guthrie High School; and Kyri Hester, freshman/ sophomore English teacher at GHS.
“We will do our customary awarding of Teacher of the Year in February at the high school,” Simpson said.
In another matter, the school board accepted a bid from Exterior Solutions Group, LLC for roof replacement at the Guthrie Public Schools Administration Building.
“This is part of an insurance claim to put a new roof on this building,” Simpson said. “Of all of our roofs within the district, other than Cotteral, this is by far the worst roof.”