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Marboro County board approves phase one of athletics restructuring
Summary
The Marboro County Board of Education authorized the district athletic director to begin a phased restructuring plan that unifies middle-school teams, adds a girls flag‑football program and reorganizes coaching and facility use; approval came by voice vote with no roll‑call tally recorded.
The Marboro County Board of Education voted April 7 to authorize the district athletic director to move forward with phase one of a multi‑phase athletics restructuring plan.
Cory Johnson, the district’s athletic director, outlined a plan to unify middle‑school sports across the county, launch the district’s first girls flag‑football team in fall 2025, create a unified middle‑school football team, add a middle‑school soccer B team and reorganize cheer and cross‑country programs to improve competitiveness and participation. Johnson cited middle‑school participation figures from across the county and estimated phase‑one costs for middle‑school football at about $85,000 (for roughly 40 players), noting a $2,500 grant from the Carolina Panthers would help seed a girls flag‑football team.
Johnson described proposed facility changes, use of the high‑school complex for combined programs, plans for bus routes to transport middle‑school athletes to central practice sites and a phased approach that would defer larger facility renovations to phase two. He said coaching stipends currently unused could be repurposed for athlete transportation and that community forums will be scheduled to discuss the plan with parents.
Board members asked about community reaction, playing time for students, equity of senior recognition and the mix of paid vs. volunteer coaches. In response, Johnson said district staff plan community forums and that the district would try to preserve local recreational opportunities while concentrating school competition at central sites. Asked whether all students who want to play will be accommodated, Johnson said the district could create additional junior‑level teams if necessary to keep students engaged.
Following discussion, a board member moved that "the board authorize the AD to move into phase one" of the restructuring; the motion was seconded and approved by a raised‑hand voice vote. The transcript records the motion and the vote as carried but does not show a named mover or second, nor a roll‑call tally.
Next steps noted in the meeting include scheduling community forums, beginning phase‑one logistics and returning to the board with phase‑two plans and any required facility funding requests.
