School Board Meeting

    The nation’s largest football program for youth may be coming to town after the Water Valley School Trustees authorized the use of the high school football field for the league.

    Bobby Hervey and Ralph Horton appeared before school trustees, asking for use of  the football field in conjunction with the formation of two Pop Warner football teams.

    “It is full contact,” Horton said. “It lets the kids get a feel of football teamwork and discipline,” he told school officials.

    The league will be divided into two age groups, 6 – 10 and 11 – 13, according to Horton.  He also said the league would be open for anyone who wanted to participate. Pop Warner is the nation’s largest and oldest youth football program, and has participants in 41 states.

    Water Valley would compete with 12 other teams in the regionfrom surrounding towns, according to Horton. Each team would host one or two games during the season, which lasts from the middle of August until last of November.

    Questions about physicals and liability insurance were fielded by Horton and Hervey during their presentation.

    “There is no expense to the school, all we are asking for is access to the field,” Horton said.

    Other business conducted in the meeting included:

    • Accepted a $3,000 donation from the football booster club to purchase weight lifting equipment.

    “We don’t turn down money,” Board President Ray Hawkins said as the donation was formally accepted.

    • Entered executive session to discuss cutting one bus driver in a move to reduce staff. A student discipline matter was also discussed in the closed meeting.    

    • Approved an application to obtain a building grant for the school’s gifted program. If approved, the grant would be used to build a 2,000 square foot building that would be utilized for second through sixth grade gifted students.