Despite their reluctance, members of the Webster County Board of Education at their meeting Monday night agreed to establish a girls’ volleyball program at Webster County High School in order to make the district compliant with federal “Title IX” regulations which require school districts to host the same number of boys’ and girls’ sports programs.

This was the third meeting at which the Board of Education discussed the topic. At the two previous meetings, the board tabled the topic for further review. The cost to provide the program was a key source of concern for the board, and was again mentioned at Monday’s meeting.

“It’s a sad situation that we have to take money that could be used for other areas,” said board Vice-Chairwoman Lisa Preston.

She said she is concerned about the responsibility that will be shouldered on the parents and community to form another booster club that must raise money to pay for transportation to games.

Previously, the board addressed concerns about where a girls’ volleyball team would play, and Webster County School District Superintendent James Kemp said Clay Elementary could probably serve as a temporary host site until the current high school renovation is completed.

The requirement for the new sport developed after a Title IX audit determined the district needed one more girls’ sport to equalize the number of sports for boys and girls. A letter dated May 19, 2008, from a Title IX auditor, recommended to then-athletic director David Rupsch that the district “consider an away schedule for competition only,” “cut a coach in another sport to provide funds for a volleyball coach,” and “limit travel to tournaments of other sports so that funds would be available for volleyball,” among other things.

The letter also requested a “revised time-table for implementation of a volleyball program” be submitted no later than June 30, 2008.

During the meeting, Webster County Board of Education Chairman James Nance said the district was given a timeline to work out the issue, but that it is being required to do something before the start of the 2009-2010 school year. Apparently, the decision for girls’ volleyball stemmed from a survey conducted several years ago in which a large portion of WCHS girls said they would like to play on a volleyball team. Preston questioned whether that is still the case.

“What if we do this and we don’t have that many come out for the team,” she asked.

“That’s not our problem,” Nance said. “All we can do is offer it.”

He added that he doesn’t want the school district to be in violation of federal Title IX requirements because it could carry penalties for other district athletic programs, and possibly a fine.

Three of the four board members present at the meeting voted to approve the creation of the volleyball team and the elimination of the boys and girls golf program. Board member Tim McCormick voted against the motion, and board members Steve Henry and E Carolyn Tucker were absent from the meeting.

In other business, the board tabled a payment to KU after McCormick questioned why the expense wasn’t identified by the contractor of the WCHS renovation and construction project. McCormick said he isn’t opposed to the payment, but thought more information was needed about the payment. The board voted down a motion to approve the payment before tabling it.

“They send the paperwork and we have to approve it,” McCormick said/ “I don’t understand why they didn’t see it before (the bill was submitted).”

McCormick made reference to a previous board meeting at which contractors for the project, the district architect, and the contract engineer all met in closed session with the school board to discuss what were later identified as potentially litigious concerns with the renovation project.

The board also approved a change order in its contract with WCHS renovation contractor Peyronin to add a $50,000 roof repair at the Webster County Area Technology Center. The roof, which has had a leak for some time, has been a concern for the board, especially McCormick. The agreed change order for the roof repair includes a 10-year waranty and guarantee, district administrators said during the meeting.

Other items of business included:

•approval of the second reading of various contracts for the 2009-2010 school year contingent upon board attorney approval, including one with Green River District Health Dept., KECSAC, and Methodist Hospital Therapy Services;

•award of a worker’s compensation insurance bid to low-bidder Curneal and Hignite of Elizabeth, KY;

•approval of several action items by “consent,” including various activity reports, a district parent involvement policy, and a leave of absence for the 2009-2010 school year for Sheila Hughes;

•reviewed a list of personnel changes within the district, including the employment of Carolyn Bumpus, Dixon Elementary SDI instructional assistant; Tabitha Brooks, substitute instructional assistant; Linda Frederick, Clay Elementary language arts; Greg Bowles, Providence Elementary principal; Daniel Folk, Providence Elementary, science; Mark Spainhoward, Providence Elementary, intervention; Shane Smith, WCHS/Providence Elementary health and physical education; Matthew Kettler, WCHS math; Tammy Rich, WCHS english/reading; Ginger Stovall, WCHS social studies; and Jeremy Collins, WC alternative school teacher; the reassignment of Sheila Wheatley, WC special education director; and Karen Weldon, Providence Elementary preschool teacher; the retirement of Carolyn Sholar, secondary programs director; Marilyn Carlisle, Clay Elementary guidance counselor; Rama Austin, Sebree Elementary teacher; and Cynthia Campbell, Slaughters Elementary teacher; the resignation of Ellen Gibson, Providence Elementary guidance counselor; Felicia Holloman, Slaughters Elementary teacher; Donna Austin, Slaughters Elementary instructional assistant, Tracy Townsend, bus driver, and Rocky Williams, Sebree Elementary custodian; and the resignation from extracurricular activities of Robin Vaughn, assistant softball; Terry Starks, boys/girls head track; Alan Lossner, boys/girls tennis; Carly Newton, WCHS dance team; Teresa Calvert, county-wide junior high cheerleaders; Robyn Shoulders, Clay middle school academics; and Kathi Pride, Clay Elementary academics; and

•the presentation of retirement plaques to nine retiring district employees.

Kemp told the board that a court date for an ongoing civil lawsuit between the district and M&W Construction over work at Slaughters Elementary had been postponed, and that some new motions in the case have been filed.

Near the end of its meeting, the board went into closed session to discuss potential lawsuits.