By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
The Ponca School Board didn't vote on whether or not to team up with the Newcastle sports teams but it did express its continued support.
Ponca's key players took a time out to discuss the game plan.
Ponca Superintendent Joan Reznicek said, "We're hoping to be able to add the athletes and the kids from Newcastle into our events, and so that it will be a happy marriage."
Ponca's School District outnumbers Newcastle's by hundreds. In fact, Newcastle is only graduating 9 high school students this year.
Newcastle wants a co-op to give its students more opportunities to play varsity sports and it approved merging sports teams with Ponca this week.
And now, Ponca's School Board agreed to set up a committee to research and plan the co-op.
And well, one student told me, she can't wait.
Ponca Freshman Alisha Sullivan said, "I think it would be really good. Get more students in, more talent. Just make it more fun. Be able to make more friends."
Ponca wants to make sure a co-op with Newcastle is in the best interest of its students.
Reznicek said, "We have to look at kids, that's what we do with schools. As administration and as School Board, we have to see what's best for kids."
If the co-op is approved, all sports would be combined except for varsity football. Newcastle will field its own football team for at least two more years.
As for whether or not the team will be called the 'Ponca Indians'? Well, that will be discussed once the committee is set up.
