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The school board sharpened its collective pencil Monday night in Coulee Dam and OK’d a girls soccer program at Lake Roosevelt High School.

The decision came after the board learned that the budget would be tight for this next school year.

Athletic Director Richard Black, who was sworn in as a school board member later in the meeting, had recommended that the soccer program be approved.

Black had estimated that it would take about $21,500 to start the program this fall. He had already received approval from the North Central Washington 2-B League, where six schools already have soccer programs. A tentative schedule for play has already been created, Black said.

Other league schools competing are Brewster, Bridgeport, Liberty Bell, Manson, Oroville and Tonasket.

The board, obviously anxious to try out soccer, started whittling away at the $21,500 price tag and convinced each other the program was doable.

Casey Moore, who had appeared the first time the girls’ soccer idea came up, was present again Monday night and stated that she had some ideas for how the price tag could be trimmed. She also indicated that she planned to apply for the coaching position.

About 27 girls at the school took part in a poll required by the state every few years indicating they were interested in turning out for the sport.

Practices will begin Aug. 22, Black told the board.

Black said Tuesday the new sport will likely rob players from the girls’ cross country team and could take enough from volleyball to keep from forming a C squad in that long-established sport.

“You have to expect an impact elsewhere,” he said.

Black will continue his athletic director role through August, giving the district time to hire a new AD before fall sports begin.

Board member Ken Stanger, during the last soccer presentation, had said he thought the first- year cost could get down to about $15,000. Black had stated that ongoing years would cost the district about $14,050.

The board motion, made by Carla Marconi and seconded by Stanger, will bring a trial period of a year for the program, with the note that if it was even mildly successful it would be continued.

Some of the costs associated with the soccer startup include equipment (nets, balls, uniforms, shin guards, line-marker machine and lining paint). There would be some $5,500 cost for officials during the season, $2,500 for a coach, and $3,800 for transportation.

It was pointed out in an earlier meeting that the district has a strong junior soccer program and this should help sustain it in the future.

The vote of the board to begin girls’ soccer this fall was unanimous.