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Parents and students ask Sullivan County schools to approve middle‑school swim program and stipends
Summary
Community members, students and coaches urged the board to establish a middle school swim program, provided participation numbers from local schools, and asked for funding for coaching stipends and transportation; several board members voiced support and requested staff follow up.
Multiple community speakers, students and local coaches urged the Sullivan County Board of Education to approve a county middle‑school swim program and associated coaching stipends.
Parent and program advocate Benjamin Caputors opened public comment with a request "to ask for approval for a middle school swim program and coaching stipends" and provided comparative participation figures from area high schools and middle‑school programs. Speakers cited local high school rosters — e.g., Bristol High School 36 swimmers, Science Hill 32, Dobyns‑Bennett 25 — and noted that Sullivan County currently has no middle‑school swim program.
A fourth‑grade student described personal experience on a club team and told the board, "One of my favorite things about swimming are that to always be in the water, learn new things, be healthy, and be a part of the team," and another student (a high‑school senior and longtime swimmer) described making state regional cuts and said county swim teams face recruiting and facility challenges, including pool closures and transportation barriers.
Speakers and a coach outlined local models: Hawkins County combines middle schools and typically fields 40–50 swimmers; Barracuda swim club partners with school teams and hosts shared practices. Advocates asked the board to consider funding coaching stipends, transportation support and coordination with local aquatic centers.
Board members thanked presenters, said they had received emails of support, and several members publicly voiced support for exploring the program. Chairman Price and other board members requested staff and athletic department follow up to analyze costs, transportation feasibility and potential pilot models. No formal motion or vote to create the program was recorded in the transcript; the request was made in public comment and the board indicated next steps would include staff analysis.
Speakers emphasized safety as part of the program's value: "death in a lot of school age children is drowning, actually drowning," a speaker said, urging swim instruction as a safety and life‑skills priority.
