Eagle Point athletics report: high participation, one-student co-op and $50,000 field repairs

At the March 19 board meeting, the Eagle Point School District 9 athletics update reported strong spring participation and several facility and policy items that staff are managing.

Dave Fairfax, the athletics presenter, said spring rosters are healthy: “Things are going really well,” he told the board, reporting about 125 athletes on the track roster, two full baseball teams, full softball teams and about 25 golfers. He noted a regional trend of fewer junior-varsity squads at some neighboring districts but said Eagle Point has been able to schedule local opponents to provide sufficient games.

Fairfax and board members discussed a proposed cooperative arrangement to permit a student from Butte Falls Charter School to participate on Eagle Point’s girls track team this season because Butte Falls lacked coaches and enough athletes for the sport. Fairfax said one Butte Falls student is currently participating in track and field under a co-op arrangement while districts finalize approvals. The board discussed eligibility rules, and board members noted that OSAA rules generally permit participation only if a student resides in the district unless a co-op agreement is approved. Fairfax said the co-op, if approved, would apply sport-by-sport and gender-by-gender.

The board also heard about facility damage and repairs. Fairfax said the district contracted with Hamcon Builders to repair vandalism and storm damage to field infrastructure, restore concrete, replace metal poles and install new nets. The total contract cost was described as about $50,000. Board discussion noted the district’s insurance will not cover the full cost because the existing nets are roughly 20 years old and the district’s deductible is $10,000.

Fairfax said the new nets will include a breakaway feature and that staff are working on timing for installation. In the meantime, the district will schedule single games (not back-to-back side-by-side games) at the field, use public-address announcements to remind attendees to be cautious, and install temporary window covers over the press box.

Fairfax also mentioned the district is awaiting an impact-testing report from a turf vendor; staff reported they had not yet received the final report.

The board did not take a separate motion on the co-op during this update; Fairfax said the co-op request is being processed between districts. The Hamcon Builders contract was presented as already executed for repairs and nets.