RIVERSIDE

Highland High School’s wrestling team will include at least three girls from Washington High School.

At a special meeting held Monday, Oct. 23, the Highland School Board approved a plan to share a girls wrestling team this year with Washington. The combined team, which is common in high school sports statewide, will be based at Highland.

Ken Crawford, Highland Schools Superintendent, said the Huskies team would provide coaching and competition for 3-5 girls from Washington High School.

The Washington School Board voted Oct. 11 to approve the shared team.

Nick Cole and Dylan Stewart are the wrestling coaches at Highland.

Xtream Arena in Coralville hosted the first state tournament in girls wrestling last February. The season begins Oct. 30 with the state’s first day of practice for more than 200 schools registered to compete in girls wrestling.

Facilities Update

A third meeting of the district’s facilities committee will take place Nov. 1.

The meeting is expected to include a top 10 wish list by committee members. OPN Architects of Iowa City is helping to coordinate the meetings.

Crawford said the meetings will become more important as decisions are considered and made toward a November 2024 election that will likely include a request to district residents for a new bond that would fund new and renovated school facilities.

“We need people to be there,” Board and Facilities member Dan Ruth said of the upcoming meeting.

The opening meeting in August drew 31 community members and dropped to 17 with the second meeting.

“I’m hoping that number will bounce back a little bit,” Crawford said. “From here on out, it’s making decisions.”

OPN’s plans call for a presentation to the School Board in January, followed by a number of actions and proposals leading up to the November 2024 vote. Among the possibilities for new facilities are a school auditorium, an additional gym and expanded parking lots at the high school.

Board Action

The Board approved former superintendent Carol Montz as a candidate for the Grant Wood AEA Agency Board of Directors election.

The Board approved the appointment of Chris Ford as assistant girls basketball coach.

The Board heard a report from Bill Zywiec, Dean of Students, and Jane O’Leary, Elementary School Principal, on Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) scores and Conditions of Learning programs.

Next board meeting: The board will hold its next monthly meeting at 5 p.m. November 13.