Parents, students petition Sullivan County BOE to create middle school swim program

A group of parents, coaches and student athletes urged the Sullivan County Board of Education to approve a county middle school swimming program and to consider coaching stipends and logistical support.

Benjamin Caputors (as identified in the meeting transcript) told the board he had emailed details and summarized participation numbers from nearby high schools to show local interest. He said Sullivan County currently lacks a middle school swim program while several area high schools carry teams. He asked the board to support a county middle school program and to consider funding needs such as transportation, facility rental and coaching stipends.

Multiple student and community speakers described their experiences with swim clubs and high school programs. One student who said she had swum on a club team described how team membership helped her qualify for state-level meets; another senior from West Ridge said swimming reduced drowning risk and provided physical and mental benefits. Presenters highlighted barriers including pool closures, maintenance problems, transportation and recruiting challenges and suggested the district could partner with local clubs or rent lanes at community pools.

Board members thanked the speakers and indicated preliminary support while noting the need to review numbers and logistics. Staff and board members said they had received emails in support of the program and that the presentation would be reviewed by the athletic department and administration.

No formal action to create a county middle school swim program was recorded in the transcript excerpt; speakers asked the board to consider the request and to review funding and transportation options.