Morrice school board approved a varsity golf team on Sept. 9

Morrice will have a varsity golf team. The Morrice Area Schools Board of Education voted 6-0 on Sept. 9 to approve "the establishment of a varsity golf program beginning with the 2026–27 school year," according to the meeting document posted by the district.

The Current previewed that vote the morning of Sept. 9, when golf was the only action item on the 6 p.m. agenda and no supporting material had been attached. The supporting page has since been posted, and it spells out the reasoning: administration wrote that the district is "looking to more closely mirror our MSAC League school in as many activities as possible," and that "in our county, every school has a golf team." The same paragraph refers to "XX school" having a golf team in the MSAC last year — a placeholder the district never filled in.

There is no price tag in the document. Under budget impact, administration wrote only that "Program expense will come from the Athletic Budget, fundraisers, and a request for funds from the Athletic Boosters." The alternative listed was to "not approve a golf team and remain status quo." The motion came from trustee Iler with support from Wyzga.

The vote was unanimous among the six trustees present — Dennis, Wyzga, Iler, Hovis, Hower and Binkley. Trustee Moncur was absent. Board President Jerry Dennis called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. at Morrice Jr./Sr. High School on Purdy, and the board adjourned at 6:43 p.m.

The board also approved a personnel report in its consent agenda. Brooke McGahey resigned as cross country coach, and Caleb Shelton was hired to coach junior high and high school cross country. Three class advisors were hired: Melissa McKean for 11th grade, Lori Beckwith for eighth grade and Becky Ward Shaulis for sixth grade.

Two items came up for discussion only, with no vote and no detail in the posted document: a bond update and youth football for seventh and eighth grade. The district's bond work has been a recurring item on these agendas — a bond update was also listed for discussion at the Aug. 19 meeting.

What happens next: the document does not name a golf coach, a home course, a season or a dollar figure, and it does not say what the bond update covered or what the board intends to do about seventh- and eighth-grade football. Those would ordinarily surface in later agendas and personnel reports. The desk will watch for a golf coach hire on an upcoming Morrice personnel report.