Charleston County Schools Considering Middle School Sports

Charleston County School District officials have been discussing proposals to extend sports programs to middle schools in the district for the better part of two years.

So far plans have been discussed with school principals and athletic directors, but the proposal hasn't made it to Superintendent Dr. Nancy McGinley's desk or to the School Board, which would have to approve any such expansion, the Post and Courier reports (subscription required).

Under consideration is a plan to extend all South Carolina High School League sports to the 6-8 grade level. Seventh and eighth graders are already allowed to participate on high school junior varsity teams, but the plan would set up athletic programs at each middle school with coaching staffs that work with the athletics directors of the high schools those middle school programs feed into. With additional staffing, equipment and facility maintenance costs the proposal could cost the district $1.5 million.

Officials told the paper that no changes would likely occur until after the 2013-14 school year.