School board approves football merger

DUNDEE--The Dundee Central School Board of Education held the regularly scheduled meeting in the public meeting room, Thursday, Feb. 6. Included in the resolutions for the evening was the approval of a full-scale merger of the football and fall cheerleading programs for next school year (2020-2021).
Although there was no discussion during the vote, Superintendent Kelly Houck addressed the change during her report to the board.
"I had the tentative (football) schedule shared with me, and what is very interesting when you look at that schedule, every team is a combined team but two," said Houck. "Everybody has a hyphenated name."
Dundee changed to an eight-man team for the 2019 varsity season, while the modified and junior varsity teams combined with Penn Yan at that time. Dundee's eight-man schedule last year included two away games that were over two and a half hours away in the western part of the state. Their first game of the season was homecoming Sept. 21.
Houck said she has asked student-athletes to prepare ideas for the March board meetings for both Dundee and Penn Yan about the combined football team. A number of students from both schools have already begun talking with the other school's coaches and athletic directors to begin the transition process.
"I am beyond impressed about what has been reported back to me from the student leaders at both districts," added Houck.
She also mentioned the tentative schedule will have three home games that will alternate between Penn Yan and Dundee. This will allow each school to have their homecoming game at home and in October.
In other news, representatives from the Dundee Library presented to the board about the need for additional funding to replace computers for public use at the library. The old units are over six years old and are in line for replacement. The additional funding will amount to $5,613 and also covers an increase from the Southern Tier Library System cost-share.
School Business Official Melissa Lawson updated the board about the upcoming budget, the unknowns and the importance of how BOCES will come in with their final request for services. She explained the BOCES capital and rent budget line are now accounted for in the state tax cap. Lawson said at the March meeting there will be a better understanding of the changes. Her presentation showed a maximum allowable levy increase of 2.2 percent.
Superintendent Houck also gave an update about the possibility of a full-service health clinic at the school, which would also serve the Dundee community. Aspects that would be addressed include physical health, mental health, financial health and nutritional health. Finger Lakes Community Health is working with Houck and they will have an upcoming meeting to discuss the steps going forward.
The next meeting of the board is Thursday, March 19 at 5 p.m.