RCS Board hears spring sports recap and athletics updates; athletics presenter announces departure

Jen Murphy, who presented the district's spring-sports recap, told the Board of Education that 172 student athletes participated in spring sports and reviewed team results, individual honors and end-of-year awards. Murphy also outlined near-term athletics projects — a renovated fitness center, gym-floor refinishing, and new equipment — and several program changes, including continued swim-team mergers with Greenville and exploration of boys volleyball and girls flag football.

Murphy walked the board through highlights: varsity baseball finished 9-8 overall, Colonial Council all-star recognitions were noted for Alex Hallwick (first team), Matthew Cameron and Hayden Sorensen (second team), and the district recognized several MVP and MIP award winners in its spring awards night. The presentation listed four sports offered in spring with nine total teams districtwide and recognized six students who signed to compete in college-level athletics.

Murphy gave technology and registration updates. FamilyID, the district's online registration tool, is now branded as Arbiter Sports after a purchase; scheduling data formerly hosted on Our School Today also now appears under Arbiter Sports. She urged families to use the online registration tool ahead of fall sports.

Facilities updates described by district staff and in Murphy's presentation included a full revamp of the high-school fitness center (new flooring with the Ravens logo and incoming equipment), sanding and repainting of the main gym floor, work on other gym floors and unit-ventilator hookups in classrooms as part of an ongoing capital project. The district is also replacing a bus lift to support future heavier electric buses and expects the lift to be ready by the first day of school. Some playground swing replacements and field modifications remain on an August/early-September timeline depending on weather.

Murphy thanked the board and community and said she is stepping away from the district; she said she had "been in this role" for three years and was "thankful for the opportunity" and for the students, coaches and community. Board members wished her well; one board member referenced South Glens Falls while offering congratulations.

During hearings and petitions, a student and his father asked the board to reconsider an athletics eligibility decision. Ben, a junior who said he has a heart condition, told the board that he has played club soccer without issue and that his cardiologist told him, in his view, that Ben could play if he were mature enough to remove himself if he felt symptoms. Ben said he was allowed to participate fully in physical education but not on the school soccer team; the family asked the district to meet with them to explore options for participation while maintaining safety.

Board members and staff said they would follow up with the family and Superintendent Chandler indicated administrators would meet with the family and provide further information.

Smaller items included recognition of the Colonial Council sportsmanship summit, a sports-association-supported athletics awards night and plans for a January athletics hall-of-fame weekend. The athletics office noted planned purchases, some of them supported by the sports association, and ongoing conversations with Greenville about continued program-sharing for swimming and potentially boys volleyball.

Ending: Board members asked that the athletics office continue outreach to families on fall registrations and that the administration follow up with the family who spoke about athletic eligibility. The district said it would provide further follow-up and work with medical staff and the family to determine next steps.