After a sometimes-heated discussion and an executive session, the Sharon Springs School Board agreed 4-1 Monday to lend the SSCS name and likeness to an off-school shooting league.
The decision will let organizers like Cori Bisonette, who spearheaded the effort to sign up with the High School Clay Target League, begin work on drafting a team and finding a coach and a place to compete in time for the spring season.
About 25 parents and kids joined Ms. Bisonette to ask for the school board’s support—a requirement before they can join the statewide league, Ms. Bisonette said.
There will be no cost to the school—participants will pay about $225--and the league carries its own insurance.
It will be open to students in grades 6-12 and all must have their hunter training certificate to take part.
Ms. Bisonette first made a presentation on the shooting league in September and asked why no one of the school board had reached out to her since.
It’s understandably, an important decision, answered Superintendent Tom Yorke, and one the school board hadn’t yet had a chance to discuss in-depth.
“For the public, the idea of guns in schools raises questions, and rightly so,” he said.
Ms. Bisonette said that they won’t be using the school, but rather a local gun club.
If SSCS didn’t approve their request, “We’d go to another school,” she said. “I hope that’d not the case. Literally, it’s just the name.”
Physical education teacher Tammy Behr said she backs the request.
About six years ago, she said, SSCS joined the nationwide Archery in Schools program, and there have been no problems.
“I can see how this would play into some of our kids’ needs,” she said. “Kids would be able to shine in a different way and share those talents.”
School board member Helen Roberts, who voted against the league, wasn’t buying that, though.
“Why does there have to be a school name on it?” she asked.
“When I look at the list of other schools…I question the integrity of the school board members. With all of the stories we’re hearing on school shootings, it just doesn’t mesh with me.”
Ms. Bisonette countered that the school board’s job is to represent all students, not advance personal politics.
“There’s clubs I don’t agree with in school,” she said.
Other parents suggested teaching kids how to respectfully handle guns would be a big plus.
“We live in the United States of America,” said one. “You shouldn’t be able to tell me what I do in my free time.”
As things heated up, the school board called an end to the discussion to go into executive session over a separate, personnel matter—but said there would likely be a decision afterwards.
About a dozen parents stayed to hear what it was.
Yes, by a 4-1 vote, on an annual basis, with coordination by Mr. Yorke, who will approve any coach.
Ms. Roberts was the no vote.