Board backs discussion of unified sports and sharing an athletic director with neighboring district

Marion Central School District leaders told the board they plan to pursue unified sports and a shared athletic-director arrangement with a neighboring district.

Dr. L said the district and Mr. Dean visited a Special Olympics unified-basketball tournament and are interested in adding unified sports next spring, beginning with unified basketball; Special Olympics provides startup support and training for new teams. "Unified sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team," she explained.

On athletics staffing, Dr. L proposed sharing an athletic director with Gananda so the position would be a full-time (1.0) role split between the two districts, with Marion covering half the salary and benefits. Marion would ask current interim help ("Miss D") to support transition and sign-ups while a new hire adjusts.

Board members discussed the proposed fall-sports plan: non-merged girls volleyball at all levels, renewed mergers with Williamson for cross country and golf, renewed merges with Gananda for girls soccer and an expanded boys-soccer merge, adding girls swimming in a merge with Gananda, and continuing modified/JV football merger with Newark. Trustees raised questions about which school would host particular teams, how coaching representation would protect fair play time for Marion students, and whether merged teams would be hosted at Marion or at partner districts.

No formal vote was required; board members indicated general support and asked administrators to work out details on hosting, coaching composition and scheduling.