No Decision On Site Location; Orchard Board Extends Deadline

Although all eight board members agreed they "in good faith" are committed to working toward a site location agreement, no decision was made during Monday's special meeting of the Clearwater and Orchard advisory boards.

The 27-minute meeting ended with the Orchard board making a motion to extend the deadline until the Monday, June 6, advisory board meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. The boards agreed to place not only site location on the agenda, but also two more items brought forth Monday night by the Orchard advisory board - forming a three-person committee to continue discussion as well as setting a rotation schedule for junior high and high school athletics.

Orchard Advisory Board President Candice Hoke began the meeting by reading a proposal that was submitted last week to administrators and the Clearwater board. 

In that proposal, Orchard offered "to extend that (deadline) for three months as long as progress continues to be made toward an agreement that is workable for both parties."

Hoke said the proposal included forming a committee of Kristi Schutt of Orchard, Regina Krebs of Clearwater and a Verdigre advisory board member to "continue to work toward a resolution" with a "monthly update as an agenda item in June, July and August to the board of its progress. And then after three months, the topic will be back on the board agenda for September."

Orchard also proposed a rotation schedule for 2016-17 junior high and high school athletic practices. Orchard would host all 9-12 volleyball and football practices with basketball practices rotating between the two sites weekly with boys at one location and girls at the other. Wrestling would remain in Clearwater while track would be in Orchard. When 9-12 practices are in Orchard, the junior high practices would be in Clearwater and vice versa. 

The entire proposal was met with resistance from the Clearwater members who said the only item that needed approved Monday was Orchard's motion of the May deadline to reach an agreement. 

When asked what the practice schedule changes would accomplish, Schutt said it would "show that all of us are willing to work together to make an option to making this work and a commitment that you guys are willing to make this work also."

Clearwater Board President Amy Thiele responded, "We've always been committed to making this thing work. Everything you've asked of us we've done from forming the committee to public meetings to proposals. We've always been committed. . . . you're either willing to accept your deadline or not, or you're willing to extend your deadline or not."

Hoke responded, "We are willing to extend our deadline if you're willing to make a commitment toward practices for next year."

Thiele said, "Once again, you are only willing to do something only if we're willing to do something."

Hoke stopped Thiele and said, "That's the way compromise works." 

The boards also discussed briefly the feasibility study with Ewing. Superintendent Dale Martin said the study will begin in August with the report being released in January. 

Schutt asked all of the board members, "Are you six willing to work on this thing? Because right now I'm getting vibes that we're burying our feet, and we're not trying to work on this."

Thiele spoke up and said he was willing to work on the agreement. Hoke then asked if it would be on an agenda and discussed or "Can we finally make a decision?" 

Krebs said she didn't want to make a decision without asking the public for their input on the new proposal.

Duane Kester said practice locations should be a decision by administrators, the athletic director and coaches - - not the advisory board. "I don't want to micromanage all of the athletic stuff," Kester said. 

Martin concurred but stated administration did want "direction" from the advisory board. 

Schutt made a motion to extend the deadline until the next advisory board meeting, which is in 14 days. Hoke seconded the motion and all Orchard board members voted in favor of moving the deadline to the June meeting.