Board honors athletic boosters and Coach Blaine Pitts after 500th coaching victory; donations accepted

At its Sept. 15 meeting the Marion City Schools Board of Education presented a certificate of appreciation to the Marion City Schools Athletic Boosters and adopted a proclamation recognizing Coach Blaine Pitts after he reached his 500th career coaching win on Aug. 21.

Superintendent Brian Murphy read the certificate and recommended the board formally recognize the athletic boosters for longstanding financial and volunteer support. Murphy noted the boosters have contributed “well into the millions” over many years to support school programs and athletics. Marsha (identified in the meeting as the boosters’ president) was present to receive the recognition.

Murphy also recommended and the board adopted a proclamation honoring Coach Blaine Pitts for his 500th career coaching victory, recorded in the meeting materials as occurring on Aug. 21, 2025, after a 3–2 win over Ontario. Board members and former players spoke in praise of Pitts’s leadership and the program’s impact on student athletes; one speaker noted several former Marion players compete at the collegiate level.

The board also approved a list of donations submitted in the consent agenda. Donations included $6,754 to Harding’s athletic department from Inspire Brands (through Buffalo Wild Wings); multiple $50 gift‑card donations for Convocation Day; contributions of equipment and apparel from the boosters; and in‑kind gifts such as three 3D printers valued at $300 each for McKinley, Taft and Harrison.

Board members discussed display and recognition of a banner honoring Coach Pitts’s milestone; members noted the boosters had presented banners and other items during celebrations and discussed returning the banner to display at the tennis courts or other public area.

The recognition and acceptance of donations were approved by recorded roll call during the consent agenda and superintendent’s report.