THREE-SCHOOL ALL-SPORTS PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE

A formal proposal for an all-sports cooperative between Freeman Public, Freeman Academy and Marion is on the table and will be taken up by all three school boards early this week.

The proposal is non-negotiable and was drafted by a task force put in place at Freeman Public last summer to explore establishing a partnership with neighboring districts; it was presented Wednesday night, Jan. 5 at a task force meeting that included two members from all three schools, superintendents from Freeman Public and Marion and the Freeman Academy Head of School.

Freeman Public Superintendent Jake Tietje said boards at Freeman Public and Freeman Academy will vote on the proposal at their respective meetings on Monday, Jan. 10 while the Marion School Board is expected to vote at its regular meeting the following night, Jan. 11 at 5 p.m.

A simple majority from all three boards is required for approval.

Tietje said there will be an opportunity for public input prior to the Freeman School Board voting on the proposal Monday night.

Here’s a closer look at what’s on the table:

Football: Freeman Public would host three games and Marion would host one, with playoff games at Freeman Public. Practices would be split 50/50 between Freeman Public and Marion. At the junior varsity and junior high level, Freeman Public and Marion would each host two games and practices would be split 50/50.

Basketball and volleyball: Freeman Public would host seven games, Marion two and Freeman Academy one. Playoff games would be at Freeman Public and practices would be split 50/50 between Freeman Public and Marion.

Soccer: Freeman Academy would host all home matches.

Cheer: Still to be decided.

Everything else: In all other sports and at all levels — wrestling, track, cross-country, golf and softball (after it is sanctioned in 2023) — all practices and competitions would be held at Freeman Public.

In addition to the sports cooperative, the proposal states that consolidation between Freeman Public and Marion would be discussed in the summer and fall of 2023, with the required vote for approval by patrons from both school districts in November of that year.

The proposal also states that the possibility of sharing teachers in hard-to-find areas was discussed, and that there was also a desire to explore combining band and choir programs.

Tietje did not speculate what would happen should the proposal not gain approval by all three boards next week.