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Thompson BOE approves three athletic co-ops, adopts FY2026 budget calendar; discusses costly track equipment and closed soccer field
Summary
The Thompson Board of Education on Nov. 12 approved entering three athletic co-op agreements and adopted its FY2026 budget calendar and revised 2025 meeting dates. Members discussed a high-cost track equipment purchase (no action) and a closed MRFES soccer field that will undergo aeration and overseeding.
Thompson Board of Education Chair Kathleen Herbert opened the Nov. 12 regular meeting and the board moved quickly through routine business before taking up athletics and budget planning.
The board voted unanimously to enter into three athletic co-op agreements after an update from athletic department staff. Deb Spinelli told the board she will present the proposed co-op arrangements to the League and sought the board's permission to proceed with that step. "She needs permission from the Board to move forward as she is presenting the athletic co-op proposals to the League on Thursday," according to the meeting record.
Why it matters: The co-ops would allow Thompson students to participate in shared football, soccer, baseball and golf programs where the district lacks standalone teams, potentially preserving opportunities for student-athletes while changing how teams are staffed and scheduled.
On finance and scheduling, the board approved the FY2026 Budget Calendar (motion by Justin Yong, seconded by Matthew Polsky) and also approved a revision to its 2025 meeting dates (motion by Jessica Bolte, seconded by Kristin Schultz). The district's reported enrollment was 800 students as of Nov. 1, a figure board members noted as they set the planning calendar.
Track equipment: Board members discussed bids for replacement track equipment but raised concerns about the high cost and the fact installation was not included in the vendor quotes. Members asked the Building Committee to inventory existing equipment and to review smaller-package options; no purchase motion was made. The minutes record that "board members expressed concerns about the high cost of the equipment" and agreed to take further review rather than approve procurement that evening.
Facilities: Bill Birch reported the MRFES soccer field has been locked and is unusable because of overuse and drought; the district plans deep aeration and aggressive overseeding and hopes that with rain the field might be usable again in about a year.
Procedural notes and other business: The board approved the Oct. 15, 2024 special and regular meeting minutes (motion by Jessica Bolte, seconded by Matthew Polsky); William Witkowski was recorded as abstaining from that vote. A motion to add the Athletic Co-Op item to new business also passed earlier in the meeting.
Board member Jessica Bolte used the Citizens’ Comments portion of the agenda to clarify a prior public remark about special education funding, saying the funding obligation is a legal responsibility and not a "goodwill payment" from the Board of Finance.
The meeting adjourned at 9:27 p.m. on a unanimous motion.
