Bermudian discusses football, increasing enrollments; will add outdoor space to the new middle school

David Orwig, Bermudian Springs School District Athletic Director, said that he wants to discontinue the freshman football team in favor of moving those students to the JV and varsity programs.

“There’s a number of reasons for this,” Orwig said. “Mostly it has to do with our opponents and the fact that we don’t really have anybody in our division in the York-Adams league that offers freshman football any longer.”

Bermudian Springs SD
Bermudian discusses football, increasing enrollments; will add outdoor space to the new middle school 3

Orwig said it will take some planning.

“Of course, there are considerations when moving freshman into a collision sport like football, considerations you need to take into account, such as skill, strength, experience, athleticism so you aren’t mismatching student athletes,” he said.

Board Secretary Douglas Knight questioned whether removing the freshman team would leave too few spots for students interested in playing.

“Playing time’s always a concern,” Orwig said. “I would say in general, our program and Bermudian Springs will benefit; our JV program will benefit by having those 9th graders there.”

Projected Enrollment

Board Superintendent Shane Hotchkiss, said that although the district is still waiting to hear from some families about their plans for their students this fall, the district has a large amount of projected enrollment data available.

As of Monday evening, Bermudian Springs Elementary School anticipated having six students in charter school, 24 in the Eagles Academy, 504 in regular enrollment, one in homeschool and one in private school.

Hotchkiss said he anticipates seeing the kindergarten numbers increase. But from the data available so far, the projected elementary school class sizes are “absolutely phenomenal.”

The middle school currently expects to see two students in charter school, 28 in the Eagles Academy, 495 traditionally enrolled and one student homeschooled.

At the high school level, more students will likely be enrolled in the Eagles Academy.

Five students will be in charter school, 62 will be in the Eagles Academy, 513 will be signed up for face-to-face classes, two will be homeschooled and one will be in private school, according to the projections.

New Middle School

Hotchkiss asked the board to consider having an auction service help sell items from the middle school building.

He had a proposal from Hurley Auction.

Selling items could help add more cash to the district’s budget. A separate district recently sold items from a building it planned to demolish, netting $80,000, he said.

The auction service would come in to photograph or mark items available for sale.

“That can include– I know it’s silly– anything from ceiling tiles, to fire extinguishers, to all of the kitchen equipment, any of the other equipment, lockers,” Hotchkiss said.

Hurley Auction also agreed to let the district bring in other equipment to sell from outside of the middle school, according to Hotchkiss.

Outdoor Space


Hotchkiss apprised the board of a more feasible way to add an outdoor learning space to the new middle school.

When asked what they’d like to see, many children responded that they wanted those outdoor spaces, Hotchkiss said. Bids at the time were out of the budget.

Hotchkiss recently approached Hanover Architecture and worked with a graduate from the district on a plan.

Hanover created a design of the courtyard showing an eagle made from pavers. The business also offered to donate a large amount of materials, including all of the pavers, Hotchkiss said. The company also hasn’t charged anything for the time spent visiting the property or making the design.

Hotchkiss said he is working on coming up with affordable ways to cover the installation costs as a quote was higher than hoped.


Other business

The board heard a recommendation to keep the breakfast, lunch and milk items at the same cost and only to increase a la carte items as needed.

Hotchkiss said that summer free lunches would begin Tuesday.

The buildings and grounds committee meeting on June 23 was canceled. The next one will be held at 5:00 p.m. July 28.

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Imari Scarbrough is a freelance journalist. She was a staff newspaper reporter for five years before becoming a freelancer in 2017. She has written on crime, environmental issues, severe weather events, local and regional government and more.

You can visit her website at ImariJournal.com.

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