(Atlantic, Iowa) [updated w/audio comments] – Citing a lack of participants in the program, Atlantic School District Athletic Director Andy Mitchell recommended to the School Board, Wednesday evening, that the girls swimming be removed from the list of extra curricular activities in the 2023-24 School Year. The boys program would remain intact, barring any loss of participants.

Mitchell said as right now, they’re not expecting any new girls swimmers for Atlantic next year, they need at least two more, but even if there were three girls, it’s not a swim program. “You can’t offer relays…It just doesn’t help us out.” If the numbers for girls swimming increase, the program could be brought back at a later date. The boys swim program is faring better, Mitchell says.

The boys program will remain intact, barring any loss of participants. In his report also, Andy Mitchell suggested that the District add a Middle School (7th & 8th Grade) Girls Softball Program as an extracurricular activity. The program would be a partnership between the Little League and Atlantic School.

Mitchell said he has not worked on a schedule, yet, because he wants to work with other H-10 districts to begin the process of coordinating trips, etc.

He said right now, they’re looking at the possibility of 20 girls per team.

The Board approved the changes to extracurricular activities, as recommended. In other news, the Atlantic School Board approved an Out-of-State High School Track trip to Northwest Missouri State University, for participation in an indoor track meet.