DSCN6166Soccer will be starting up next spring at Greene County High School.

The School Board formally approved the proposal at their regular meeting last week. The initial proposal includes $48,843 for expenses. Some of the most expensive items are coaches salaries of over $19,000, uniforms for $6,500, goals for $6,200 and transportation for $6,000. However, all of the expenses would be offset by volunteers for coaches, boosters and fundraising. The proposal had over $26,000 that would be raised or waived with volunteers and another $22,600 from fundraising.

Besides some of the variables for fundraising and donations, Superintendent Tim Christensen points out another variable.

“It takes quite a few kids to play soccer and (we’re) looking at both boys and girls, so a lot of that will depend on what the numbers are. I suppose another thing we would need to look at is what the age level/grade level the students are. If you only had 15 kids out, and it takes 11 kids to play soccer, and only had 15 out and they’re all freshmen and sophomores, there might be a discussion about, do we play a JV (junior varsity) schedule. If the 15 out are juniors and seniors, discussion is probably a varsity schedule.”

Going forward, Christensen says fundraising will need to continue to be a part of funding the program, as well as some juggling of coaching positions from one sport to another may have to happen to keep all current sport programs functioning.

Shannon Black was one of the committee members who worked on the proposal. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio she was nervous when it went to the vote, but was confident in the work the committee had done for it to pass. She’s excited for the opportunity for the kids to participate in soccer next year,