School board approves junior high soccer program

The Columbia Falls School District 6 Board Monday night approved boys and girls junior high soccer — a move that may be the first in the state.

The program, which would serve an estimated 50 athletes a year, at least early on, is expected to cost the district about $6,600 annually. It will be for 7th and 8th graders. Younger students will still play recreational or travel ball under the Flathead Rapids program. The junior high already has several other school-sanctioned sports, including football, basketball, wrestling and volleyball.

The proposal was put together by O’Brien Byrd and Thomas Clark, the boys and girls varsity coaches respectively.

The move is significant because now students in that age bracket won’t have to “pay to play” like they have been for decades with club ball.

Boardmember Larry Wilson said he supported the measure, but wanted it to be vetted by the administration and included in the budget, rather than a top-down approach.

But boardmember Michael Nicosia noted that if the school picks up one additional student, the program would pay for itself in state aid.

In the end, the vote in favor was unanimous.

Right now, the teams would be made up of combined grades. The season is expected to start this fall, with the teams playing other clubs in the valley.

In another soccer related matter, the school district entered an agreement with Flathead Rapids soccer for field maintenance and use of the new fields between Ruder Elementary and the junior high.

In that agreement, kids would pay a $10 fee that would go toward field maintenance.