Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, the Clintonville School District will fund the high school girls swimming program.
The school board approved the request on March 13.
Superintendent Tom O’Toole told the board that it will cost the district about $8,000 to fund the program. It will increase to $9,500 if a second coach is added.
A girls team has competed in the Bay Conference for the past 10 years, but it has been a club sport, meaning the district did not provide financial support. The team relied entirely on the Clintonville Area Swim Team.
“This will ease the burden on the Clintonville Area Swim Team,” Clintonville head coach Lee Wetzel told the board.
Since there were 25 participants last fall and the young program is strong, O’Toole told the board the team numbers justify the funding.
According to Wetzel, CAST still plans to hold fundraisers to help offset some of the costs.