Policy committee approves elementary athletic activity program to expand youth participation

The Manitowoc School District Policy Committee on a voice vote approved a plan to establish an elementary athletic activity program intended to introduce and expand short-term sports offerings at the district’s elementary schools.

Committee members said the program would start with low-cost offerings — basketball, football, soccer, volleyball and a running club — and could add tennis, wrestling and supervised swimming in later years. Committee members and staff said the program is designed to get children involved earlier, build skills and create pathways into middle- and high-school teams.

The program drew support from several committee members who cited both athletic and behavioral benefits from participation. One committee member said the district previously ran short, multi-week offerings in the 1990s and early 2000s and that reinstating similar programs could increase the pool of students who later try out for school teams.

Staff flagged funding and supervision as key implementation details. Taketa (staff member) told the committee the district has access to state mental-health connectivity dollars and described those funds as an allowable source for increased youth programming: “we received approximately 31 and some odd cent dollars per pupil this year to promote mental health, mental health needs in our school district,” Taketa said, and added that using those dollars for engagement and after-school activities is an allowable expense.

Committee members discussed staffing models. Proposals included using parents and principals to recruit volunteer coaches, having high school students serve as supervised assistants to earn service hours, or assigning existing staff as supervisors while community volunteers handle skill instruction. The committee noted that swim offerings would require additional lifeguard staffing and that costs would be higher for programs that require certified safety personnel.

A motion to bring the elementary athletic program proposal to the full board was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote at committee, with no roll-call tally recorded.

Committee members emphasized next steps: finalize which sports and pilot sites, identify supervisors/coaches, and confirm the exact funding source(s) and budget line items before the program is implemented.

The committee did not adopt a detailed budget at the meeting; members directed staff to return with program specifics and staffing plans at a future meeting.