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PINE RIVER — Pine River-Backus teacher Theresa Hamp provided updated information on her work to revive the Pine River-Backus cheerleading program during the Monday, Oct. 3, regular school board meeting.
At the September meeting, Hamp was asked to get a list of interested students. She provided the board with a list of 17 students who signed up ahead of time, saying she also had several students verbally express their interest.
If the program gets started, she anticipates approximately 20 students, many of them ninth graders.
"There is an extensive amount of interest," Hamp said.
Hamp proposed that the coach of the team might be paid on the same level as the junior high softball and baseball coaches. The hope is to get the program running this school year.
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"The interest is there and I'd like to get the green light to do tryouts," Hamp said. "The kids are antsy and I'd like to have something prepared for basketball."
The board took no action on the program.
The first year the cheer team would likely only attend home games, except in case of a team going to state.
A student located old PR-B cheer uniforms in storage; however, the team would still look into new uniforms in better condition. Hamp said businesses in Pine River have already reached out and offered to sponsor uniforms. The goal is to keep the cost to the school district down.
Hamp said the last time the school had a cheer team was the 2009-2010 school year.
In other business Monday, the board:
- Learned that absentees and tardies at the high school level have dropped.
- Approved hiring Elizabeth Rock as paraprofessional and Ben Kinser as varsity softball coach.
- Approved annual policies on family and medical leave; harassment and violence; mandated reporting of child neglect, physical or sexual abuse; mandated reporting of maltreatment of vulnerable adults; bullying prohibition; sex nondiscrimination, grievance procedures and process; internet acceptable use and safety; school district system accountability and crisis management.
- Learned enrollment has grown by approximately 30 students since last year.
- Approved a band and choir trip for the 2023 spring break.
Travis Grimler is a staff writer for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@pineandlakes.com.
