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Board hears proposal to launch middle‑school track program, with $25K refurbish estimate
Summary
Administrators proposed adding a PIAA/Mid‑Pen recognized middle‑school track program for seventh and eighth graders, citing strong student interest and booster‑club support; estimated start‑up costs include a $25,000 track refurbish, $10,000 in initial uniforms and about $13,000 in recurring annual costs.
Mechanicsburg Area School District administrators presented a proposal at the Feb. 24 working session to create a middle‑school track program for seventh and eighth graders, telling the board the proposal meets the district’s policy prongs and regional athletic association recognition.
Athletics overview and rationale: Mr. Bhanic said the proposal meets two key policy thresholds — recognition by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) and Mid‑Pen — and that the district is currently the largest Mid‑Pen school without middle‑school track. He said community interest and middle‑school cross‑country participation suggest a strong feeder base and that the booster club has expressed readiness to support the program.
Costs and logistics: The administration gave initial budget estimates: roughly $25,000 to refurbish the middle‑school track (cinder replacement and widening), about $10,000 in initial uniforms, and recurring yearly costs of roughly $13,000 to cover coaching stipends, transportation and officials. Administrators said they would aim to practice at the middle school after school and host meets at the high school’s new track as scheduling allows. Staffing would follow district procedures: posted positions, interviews and paid stipends (proposed head coach plus two assistants).
Timeline and approvals: Mr. Bhanic said the Mid‑Pen tentatively placed the school on its two‑year schedule for spring seasons in 2027–28. Administration asked the board to consider a vote to add the sport at an upcoming meeting, followed by a second reading and a separate vote on the track refurbishment and the budget approvals that would fund rollout.
Board response: Board members asked about which field events would be included (administration said middle‑school track is an abbreviated schedule with no pole vault and fewer field events), practice times (typically 3:45–5:45 p.m.), and whether the sport would pull athletes from other spring sports. Administrators said they expect some overlap but also projected additional participation from students who do not play other spring sports.
Next steps: No vote was taken at the working session; administration said it would place the program approval on a future meeting agenda and bring back the refurbishment project and budget requests for subsequent board action.
