Dayton, Waitsburg school boards meet over DW Combine

WAITSBURG/DAYTON—The Waitsburg and Dayton School boards met on June 1, 2022, for a joint meeting to discuss details surrounding the future of the DW Athletics Combine. The loosely followed agenda included discipline, middle school athletics, finances, and future joint board meetings.

On the topic of discipline, Dayton School Superintendent Guy Strot and Waitsburg Superintendent Mark Pickel suggested the secondary principals handle disciplinary issues with the combine athletes. This would remove the superintendents from the equation unless their involvement is required.

Athletic Director Sam Korslund said he had observed athletes from the two schools who committed similar disciplinary offenses receiving different outcomes. One example he cited compared one student being marked by their school as ineligible for sports while the athlete from the other district was still able to compete.

Korslund said the lack of disciplinary consistency had caused some issues between athletes. The two boards agreed that consistent communication and awareness of disciplinary problems were key to keeping the combine working.

It was agreed that the Athletic Code of Conduct should be revised to reflect the need for both schools to communicate and implement disciplinary actions on a set standard.

The remaining discussion focused on middle school athletics. Board members from both districts have heard of complaints by parents that middle school students are getting less playing time due to higher athlete turnout.

Dayton School Board member and DW Combine coach Zak Fabian asked if it is a “positive” that students decide not to turn out for a sport due to high turn-out from both districts in a previous season, or letting students play on a non-combined team with fewer players.

Waitsburg board member Lisa Morrow said that it was positive if any student turned out for a sport, and there were multiple points to consider before disbanding the combine for middle school or completely.

“You have to factor in multiple things. You’re a coach, you know this,” Morrow responded to Fabian. “You have kids who are sick each week; you have kids who are ineligible each week. You have kids on family vacations; you have kids away for medical appointments. So, if you split it and you get your ten or fifteen kids, and you need nine to field a (baseball) team, seven of them are ineligible this week. How are you going to play?”

Fabian admitted that a team could not play under those circumstances and then said he would consider it a “life lesson.”

“You can’t have it both ways,” Morrow said. “Then, no kid would get playtime. At least combined, the kids will get some play time.”

Waitsburg School Board Chair Christy House reflected on comments made by students at a recent Waitsburg School Board meeting that validated her concerns over splitting the middle school athletic programs. Students had expressed that it was very difficult to figure out how to play together, and all agreed that splitting the middle schools would negatively impact the future of the high school combine.

Additionally, splitting the athletic programs at the middle school level would mean athletes learn different approaches from district coaches. This could lead to bigger continuity and team building issues after students move to the combined high school program.

Concerns about travel time impacting athletes, especially the younger, middle school athletes, were discussed, as well.

No decisions were made regarding the future of the combine, but the consensus was to move forward as planned.