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Residents urge Eagle Point SD 9 to fund safer wrestling and classroom space; youth wrestling leaders cite program drop‑off
Summary
Public commenters asked the board to address long‑standing facility safety concerns at middle schools (wrestling on hard cafeteria floors, liability) and proposed pursuing grants and metal buildings as lower-cost alternatives to block construction; Eagle Point Youth Wrestling reported 106 youth participants and transportation barriers that limit school-level participation.
During the public forum on April 24, several community members urged the Eagle Point SD 9 board to address facility and safety needs at middle schools.
An email read into the record from Tanner and Kaylee Moss called on the district to enforce policies that prohibit student violence and to support teachers; the board noted it had received the letter and that the district had begun addressing immediate concerns.
Resident Jim Harbaugh urged the board to explore funding for 2,000 square‑foot metal buildings at White Mountain Middle School and Eagle Point Middle School to provide safer wrestling and additional classroom space. Harbaugh said steel buildings could cost about $288,000–$296,000 with HVAC and electrical installed, while block buildings had previously been estimated at $516,000–$650,000; he asked the board for permission to pursue grants from Cow Creek, the Ford Foundation and Rogue Credit Union and to prioritize White Mountain Middle School if both cannot be pursued immediately.
A representative described youth-wrestling program challenges, citing transportation barriers that reduce middle-school participation even though the youth program had 106 participants, and urged middle-school facilities for practices to keep students engaged.
District staff acknowledged the safety and space concerns and noted the board would consider solutions as part of facilities planning. The public forum also included student recognitions and other community acknowledgments earlier in the meeting.
What was not decided: The board did not vote on capitalizing the metal-building proposal during this meeting; the request was recorded as public comment and a request for staff or board direction to explore grant opportunities.
