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Mifflin County board rejects ending all BMS co-ops, approves adding two sports
Summary
The Mifflin County School District board debated whether to end athletic cooperative agreements with BMS and whether to add two new cooperative sports. The board voted down a motion to terminate all BMS co-ops and approved adding boys lacrosse and girls soccer; trustees directed staff to return with contract and financial details.
The Mifflin County School District Board of Directors debated and voted on whether to modify cooperative athletic agreements with BMS, rejecting a proposal to end all current co-ops and approving an expansion to add two sports.
Board members voted 7–2 to approve adding boys lacrosse and girls soccer to existing cooperative agreements with BMS, and they rejected a separate motion to end all BMS co-op agreements for football, baseball, softball and field hockey.
Why it matters: Trustees said the decisions could affect team classifications, competitive balance and program funding. Several board members warned that changing cooperative arrangements can alter classification numbers used by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) and that any expansion could require new financial terms.
Board members first considered a motion to end the cooperative agreements that currently cover football, baseball, softball and field hockey. That motion failed on a roll call showing two yes votes and six no votes. The board then considered a second motion to keep the existing co-ops and add boys lacrosse and girls soccer; that motion passed on a 7–2 roll call.
Trustees and staff described the votes as the start of a process rather than a final contract change. Several members asked staff to return with cost estimates and recommended contract language. A district administrator said the board would notify the PIAA of any vote and then develop a payment/financial recommendation for each sport before the board finalizes contracts.
Board members expressed differing priorities during more than an hour of discussion. Missus Stewart, who said she had voted yes the previous time the issue came before the board, said follow-up research had revealed “more layers to this onion,” and she described concerns about classification effects on football, softball and field hockey.
Mister Erb, who spoke in favor of adding sports, said demographic trends in feeder grades could swell future rosters and that stronger competition could “make those kids work that much harder.” Mister Wright urged the board to move forward with a clear timeline and steps so staff could negotiate financial terms and return with a recommendation.
An email read into the record from Rhonda Harshbarger, the parent of a prospective BMS participant, urged the board to view students from Mifflin County and BMS as “one community” and supported allowing students to participate under cooperative agreements.
What comes next: District staff and athletic administrators will prepare financial proposals and recommended contract language and report back to the board in the coming weeks. The board specifically directed staff to run numbers for per-sport payments and to notify the PIAA of the board’s action and intent.
Votes at a glance: The motion to terminate all BMS cooperative agreements (football, baseball, softball, field hockey) failed (Yes: Missus Stewart; Mister Styers. No: Mister Nepp; Miss Salvo; Mister Wright; Mister Baker; Missus Dixon; Mister Herb). The motion to add boys lacrosse and girls soccer passed (Yes: Mister Knapp; Miss Salvo; Mister Wright; Mister Baker; Missus Dixon; Mister Herb; Mister Harshberger. No: Missus Stewart; Mister Styers).
