The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Dear Editor,
Not often does a High School Junior spend time researching an issue, gathering monetary support for a cause, finding adult supervision and then present a reasonable request to an intimidating, powerful board.
It takes guts! Matt Kane, a junior at Southern High School, obviously did all that at the last Southern Board Meeting.
Quoting from the unofficial board minutes of July 22nd. "...ask the board for permission to form a golf team.
The team members would be willing to pay the entry fee to the IHSA. They also have volunteer coaches.
He has spoken with area schools and they are willing to let a Southern Golf Team participate in local meets.
Blandinsville Golf Course would let them practice at no cost. A team consists of at least 4 members.
Matt stated that he has 5 individuals who are very interested. The season starts on August 15th. "
Matt had all his ducks in a row and knew the cost, the participation numbers, the funding source, the coaching staff, and even solicited committed financial resources before presenting his proposal requesting that the sport of golf be included in the next year's sports offering to students.
The Board of Education, in effect, ignored his presentation with saying "we will discuss the issue." We all know that means it was tabled and never decided.
(Upon consulting the unofficial minutes, this issue was never again discussed. If it was and such a discussion was not recorded, then that is a violation of the Open Meeting Act.)
Surely, our elected representatives respect the law!
What a shame! Here we have a future citizen who believed in "government by the people" and was not shown the courtesy of an answer.
I do not know Matt Kane and I do not play golf, but he has, perhaps, the most valid reason for this sport to be included in the curriculum-
"In closing Matt said golf was a sport that could be enjoyed on into adulthood as opposed to other sports".-Henderson County Quill, July 24, 2002, page 1, col. 4.
Sincerely,
Virginia Ross, a Southern #120 Taxpayer
Stronghurst
P.S. By the way, all school board meetings are open to the public and you just need to show up at the published time (next one is Aug.26, 7 p.m.).
If the board goes into closed session, you will be summarily asked to go outside the building no matter whether it be pouring down rain, sweltering heat, or 40 below zero.
There you must wait until the closed session is over and then you will be invited back into the meeting.
Come on, Board of Education, show some courtesy and respect for the people who elected you and finance the district.