Nevada R-5 board gets update on WCC

Nevada Daily Mail

Nevada R-5 athletic director John McNeley told the R-5 Board of Education during Wednesday's monthly board meeting that so far belonging to the West Central Conference is working well.

"It's not ideal, but it's an awfully good situation," McNeley said.

The concerns about travel have not proved to be a major issue, he told the board.

There are earlier starts for many events, he said.

"A 5 or 5:30 start time gets the kids back home sooner," he said.

Most of the Kansas City schools are a little more than an hour's drive. Warrensburg and Sedalia are around 120 to 130 miles each way and the coaches are taking lunches for the players, rather than taking the time to stop and eat after the games, McNeley told the board.

The concerns about some of the schools being located in or near bad parts of Kansas City also have not proved to be a problem.

"The areas are well policed," he said.

O'Hara, which is located near some bad areas, is hoping to re-locate in Lee's Summit, and become something similar to Rockhurst or St. Mary's, he said.

He said they currently only plan to have a building for classes, with no gym.

"Their enrollment has been dropping. Last year it was 350 students, this year it is 250. However they are still very competitive," he said.

McNeley told the board that the level of competition has been about what was expected. Except for football, which is more rugged, Nevada has been competitive.

The question about the need for Nevada to add a soccer program soon, has not been an issue, he said.

"There has been no push to add soccer," McNeley said.

"That is a major undertaking without a facility and a feeder program," he said.

"It has never been mentioned. It is still in the future," Superintendent Tyson Beshore, told the board.

Middle school sports should not see any changes, McNeley said in response to a question from a board member.

"I don't see that changing, since that is our conference affiliation," he said.

As far as the future of the West Central Conference, McNelely said the WCC is looking to expand.

There are currently seven schools in the conference and the members want to expand to eight and eventually 10 schools and then divide into two divisions.

The member schools had considered adding Ruskin, but all of the schools have had problems attending events there, and none of the members were interested in that addition, he said.

Another possibility would be to add Marshall, which would lead the conference to divide into an east and west division, he said.

Van Horn would be another possibility, he said.

"I asked about hosting some events here and there is a good chance we'll host one or two wrestling pod events," he said.

The wrestling pods would bring all the conference schools to Nevada and each school would wrestle three schools while there, he told the board.

The locations for some of the other events are determined by the available facilities. Tennis is held at Warrensburg because it is the only school with six courts and the conference boys and girls swimming and diving are held at Smith Cotton in Sedalia.

"On Jan. 24 there will be an all conference Cheer Day at Center," McNeley said.

That will be an opportunity for conference cheerleaders to compete and also have a chance for All-American cheer leader honors. If they qualify, McNeley said he thought they got to go to a bowl game.

If nothing else is better, McNeley said, being in a conference makes scheduling games, and particularly basketball games, easier. Last year 16 (all non-conference) basketball games had to be found. This year only four non-conference games had to be scheduled.

It has also provided a chance for athletes to be named to All Conference and one received a medal for cross-country, he said.

In other business the board:

* Voted, 7-0, to accept the bid of $30,954 from Sprouls Construction for Truman Elementary Phase II Water Project, to stop water from heavy rains from running into the Truman Elementary building.

* Voted, 7-0, to approve an agreement with No Boundaries Inc., for the NRTC building trades class to construct a house over a two-year period for no more than $150,000. The house will be purchased by No Boundaries with two annual payments of up to $75,000.

* Voted, 7-0, to approve policy BBFA to update the district's board member conflict of interest and financial disclosure.

During the board's closed session the following personal actions were taken:

Accepted the retirements of Richard Daut, high school; Susan Gullett, Benton Elementary; and Frances Furry, Truman Elementary.

Accepted the resignations of Traci Cliffman, middle school; Laci Seider, middle school counselor; Ranea Schulze, freshman volleyball; Kelly Hardin, middle school cheer sponsor; Alicia Weber, middle school cheer sponsor; Amyl Bishop, high school girls swimming; Tom Ford, transportation.

Accepted the following recommendations: Hailey Gillis, elementary librarian; Sam Short, high school girls swimming; Kelci Cliffman, para; and Marla Miller, high school assistant volleyball.

Approved the transfer of Julia McCaffree from Benton to Bryan Elementary for the 2015-16 school year.