By Ruth Anne Maddox

Staff Writer

Shakopee High School is one step closer to having a boys’ swimming and dive team and a girls’ dance team.

After presenting information from a student survey two weeks ago, Activities Director John Janke returned to the Shakopee School Board on Monday and recommended the two activities be added as early as next year.

The School Board will vote on the matter at its May 12 meeting.

The recommendation is that boys’ swimming and diving be added for the 2008-09 school year as a varsity sport. Projected costs would be about $10,000 to $11,000 per year for a coach, assistant coach, busing, event management and equipment.

With the inclusion of a swimming pool at the new high school, it was expected that this activity would be added sooner than later, Janke noted.

“We have a brand-new facility to utilize in showcasing this program,” he said, noting that the Barracudas, a local swim club, would serve as a feeder program. “The club has already contacted the district.”

The recommendation for the dance team is that it start as junior varsity in the 2008-09 school year and be elevated to a varsity program in its second year.

Costs for the first year, including a coach, two assistant coaches, busing, event management and uniforms is expected to run about $12,500, with year two and beyond expected to cost about $20,500. Participants also would be required to pay a uniform fee to help offset costs.

If approved, both swimming and dance would be added as winter activities.

It was suggested that discussion about the possibility of adding boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams be revisited in a year or two at the high school level. In the meantime, Janke will touch bases with Community Education and Shakopee Park & Recreation about offering classes that would allow children in the district learn a little more about playing the sport, thus creating a developmental feeder program if the district opts to add lacrosse as a sport.

“Am I saying, are we saying, are others saying, ‘Never add lacrosse.’” Janke asked. “I don’t think so … In my opinion, it would be difficult to add all [of the activities] at one time or within a year or two of each other.”

Janke said that, while the interest level in lacrosse is high among students in grades six through 11, few have likely had a chance to actually play the game. He believes the current interest level stems from lacrosse programs in area districts (Prior Lake and Chaska), as well as from the professional lacrosse team in the state, the Minnesota Swarm.

“It’s a hot-button topic,” Janke said of the sport.

Board Clerk/Treasurer Steve Schneider said that he sees lacrosse taking a similar road as soccer did in Shakopee.

“There wasn’t a soccer team in this town five years ago and now look at it,” Schneider said. “As soon as [kids] can walk, they’re out there playing soccer.”

Other activities that students expressed interest in but are not being recommended for additions are gymnastics, which carries hefty start-up costs, and badminton, which will continue as an intramural program.

Ruth Anne Maddox can be reached at (9520 345-6678 or rmaddox@swpub.com.