New Softball Program on the Way to Middle School
Oskaloosa School Board (CRI image)
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Middle school girls interested in playing softball will soon have a place to do it. The Oskaloosa School Board approved starting a middle school softball program at Tuesday’s meeting.
Currently, girls in middle school don’t have a program for softball, whereas middle school boys can join the Babe Ruth baseball program between little league and high school baseball.
“For our ladies, there really is a two-year void from the end of that little league season up until that lady is ready their 8th grade summer for high school ball,” says Superintendent Russ Reiter.
Reiter says the financial costs of the program would be similar to other sports programs, and something the district can handle, especially with the full support of the Oskaloosa Booster Club.
“Not only is it a great opportunity to participate, it gives them a chance to have more pride in high school because those two years right now are missing years,” says Mike Gipple of the Oskaloosa Booster Club.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board accepted a $165,000 bid for the latest student-constructed home. The lone bid was at the district’s suggested minimum price but included a stipulation that the sale would not proceed if the buyers couldn’t sell their home within 90 days. The board accepted the bid but rejected that stipulation. Board member Laurie Fiscella said allowing the stipulation set a bad precedent for future sales.
The board also decided to put another piece of property on the market. Reiter says the neighbor of the property has interest in buying it. The land will be listed but no minimum price has been set.
In October, the board approved creating a special education director position. Tuesday the board approved hiring Tom Mosbach for the part-time position. Reiter says Mosbach currently works with the Area Education Agency and has extensive experience with special education. Mosbach will start sometime after Thanksgiving.
Lastly, the board approved increasing its budget by $130,000. The School Budget Review Committee of the Iowa Department of Education allows districts to adjust their budgets based on factors, including enrollment numbers. Reiter says anytime a district can increase its budget and its spending authority, it should, but it will not necessarily affect the schools’ tax levy.
“In one sense, it’s a way of increasing our budget up to $130,000; however, we’re not going to get any money for it at this time. As we go through the year and we decide we need the cash, we want to spend that money, then we would have the ability to come back and increase taxes a little bit,” says Reiter.
