Equity in sports offerings for girls and boys was on the mindsof Amherst School Board members Tuesday as they rejected a proposalfrom the superintendent to begin a modified football program.
Several board members said they were concerned about offering athird modified team for eighth- and ninth-grade boys when nomodified sports for girls will be added. The district currentlyoffers a modified boys' baseball and basketball team. No modifiedsports teams are offered for girls under the Erie CountyInterscholastic Conference.
The program would not cost the district any additional moneyand would use existing equipment and coaches on staff.
Trustee Mary Michael Egan said Amherst is a small schooldistrict and does not need three levels of football.
Board Vice President Paul V. Batt Jr. asked Superintendent R.Timothy O'Neill to bring another proposal before the board nextyear that includes some offerings for girls.
In other matters, the board asked that students and parents benotified by letter of the district's policy toward summer schoolcredits before students enroll in summer classes. Under currentpolicy, when a student takes summer school classes, the gradereceived does not go toward a grade point average although it isrecorded on the student's transcript. Only classes taken throughthe Amherst district are counted in the average.
In other matters, the board accepted a $7,400 donation fromKeyCorp Mortgage Inc. to purmherst schools chase computer hardware for Windermere Boulevard Elementary School.
In personnel matters, the board ratified three-year agreementswith the Cook-Managers Association and the Lunch EmployeesAssociation.
The four members of the Cook-Managers Association will receive15.4 percent salary increase over three years. The 24 members ofthe Lunch Employees Association will receive a 15.5 percentincrease over three years. All salaries are paid through theself-supporting cafeteria program.
