Drill Team Wants More Practice Time

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

LAKETOWN, Utah.  November 21, 2017.  Ruthann Jarman, Drill Team Coach, sent a letter to Rich School Board members asking for additional bus routes for the drill team for the next two months so that the drill team would have enough time in the gym to practice for state tournaments.  Principal Rick Larson said he had met with Jarman and understood her position, but wanted the bus routes to remain the same.  “We approve bus routes at the first year board meeting and there would be additional cost and whatever we do with this program we must do with other programs,” he said.  

"We have for years required for mandatory practices that students be transported by our buses”, continued Larson. “Coaches are not to transport students in personal vehicles because of liability.”

Utah State Risk Management policy requires that if schools provide the transportation for less than 11 passengers the driver must be certified if state insurance covers it; if a coach provides transportation their private insurance must cover it.  If parents or kids drive, risk management will not cover anything. The costs of an accident would be on the school district.  It has been district policy that if requiring students to be at a practice they send buses. 

Jarman would like a two hour practice at least three times a week.  There is usually an administrator present for practices.  And Larson believed that would be problematic.  In the past Larson has scheduled buses for competitions and rehearsals, and five extra Fridays.  Because there are only two courts they have to be shared. 

Board Member Scott Tolentino asked why gym floor time couldn't be rotated between sports.  Drill team is a winter sport so it would only impact that season.

Monte Weston said that Jarman had told him that she could see improvement when there was enough gym time.  Weston said that he understand the need for basketball teams to have gym time, but  Jarman wants to practice early in the morning when the basketball team is not there just before the region and state competition. 

The length of the day for students concerned board member Eric Wamsley.  Weston replied, “Well, it is their decision. Who in the hell am I to tell them they can’t go an hour early for a month?”  Board member, Pete  Cornia said the cost of buses would go up.  Weston said, “the schools similar to us have early morning practices, Paiute, Panquitch and Duchesne." 

Board member Bryce Huefner was told that it would cost $3.78 a mile.

“If we do it, it opens up a can of worms,” said superintendent, “there will be so much needed bus transportation requested for other activities.” 

Larson worried about getting too early before the snow plows are out. 

After a long discussion the compromise position was made by Larson.  On Wednesday and Thursday they will cut the basketball team back 30 minutes, the drill team can practice for an hour and fifteen minutes and then they can practice on Friday for 2 hours or longer. That is adding a late, late bus on Wednesdays and Thursday through January until the competition.  They will practice on Monday and Tuesday in the lunch room which has been modified for their practice by putting up mirrors.

Larson said “We do value the drill team.  It is hard when we don’t have the access.”  The  district will bear the costs of the bus.

Terry Shoemaker, Director of the Association of Superintendents, praised the board and staff for the discussion. “This was a textbook course in how  a board should proceed,”  he said.

There are two new gyms proposed for the Laketown campus which in the future will help with practice and games.