SPORTS CO-OP DIRECTION STILL UNCLEAR
JEREMY WALTNER – PUBLISHER
As of Tuesday — one week after school boards from Freeman Academy and Marion both deferred action on an all-sports proposal presented by a Freeman Public task force — the situation remained a fluid one.
“I think that we’re all interested in continuing the conversation and completing it,” Freeman School Board president Emily Andersen told The Courier on Tuesday, Jan. 18. “We don’t want to leave it up in the air any longer than we have to. Let’s get more information to see if we can find something that fits the needs of all three districts.”
Freeman Public Superintendent Jake Tietje confirmed that administration from both Marion and Freeman Academy notified his office last week that they did not take up the specific proposal because they wanted further discussion. Tietje said no other specifics were outlined.
“The ball is in the other two district’s court,” Tietje told The Courier on Tuesday. “We’ve presented our offer and are waiting to hear back.”
The proposal reviewed by all three school boards last week and approved by the Freeman School Board 4-1 shows the majority of home games would be hosted by Freeman Public. And it was the 7-2-1 split in boys and girls basketball and volleyball that appeared to give Marion and Freeman Academy board members pause, especially since that’s not what they were expecting based on previous conversations with the task force.
Andersen said her understanding was that Marion and Freeman Academy school officials were going to get together “to see if we’re in a position to move this forward.”
“We’ll wait to hear something official from them,” she said. “We’re waiting on that so we can decide the next steps.”
Larry Langrock, president of the Marion School Board, confirmed with The Courier that his board would like the conversation to continue.
“I still want to keep things moving,” he said. “We don’t know what to expect or not expect. Marion would sure like to get together and have another try.”
Freeman Academy Head of School Nathan Epp also told The Courier on Tuesday that his board would like to see the schools “find a way forward.”
The biggest issue of concern as of Tuesday was football, Langrock said. While the deadline to submit a plan to the South Dakota High School Activities Association was last week, his understanding was the SDHSAA directors would give some leeway.
How much, he said, he didn’t know.
“That’s the kicker,” he said. “I’d really like to hear back from the state.”
“The tight timeline we’re on (regarding football) is a big part of the conversation,” Andersen acknowledged. “Marion and Freeman Academy want to know where they will be playing this fall, so we all feel that sense of urgency.”
Freeman Public found itself without a football team when the Canistota School Board last December pulled out of the Pride cooperative, while Marion and Freeman Academy attached themselves to the Bridgewater-Emery co-op last year.
Langrock said doing so again is another possibility, “but that isn’t what we wanted. I’m still holding my breath that (the SDHSAA) will give us a little extension. As soon as I hear, I’m going to be very anxious about it and not horse around. We’ll hold a special meeting or do whatever to get this back on track.”
Freeman Public has not discussed publicly what other options it has for football, although the district did recently call a meeting of potential players who are enrolled at Freeman Public.
The Freeman School Board also agreed to advertise for a head football coach at its Jan. 10 meeting, according to the minutes published on page 4B.
Andersen noted that all three schools want what’s best for their students.
“While we’re well-aligned on that goal, what that looks like remains to be seen,” she said. “There’s a lot of uncertainty.”
“All parties need to make a good decision for their district,” Tietje said. “It’s really now at a board level.”
Langrock said it may feel to some like the door has been closed, “but I’m hoping there’s still a crack. We’ll keep trying until we feel like we can’t try anymore.”
