Spring Cove Athletics Moving to New Conference

Spring Cove athletics will be on the move beginning with the 2021-22 school year.

Directors of the Spring Cove School District approved the move of the district’s athletic teams to the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference from the Mountain League during Monday night’s (March 16) board meeting. Eight boardmembers approved the move. Boardmember Charles Gojmerac abstained from the vote, as he is secretary/treasurer of the Mountain League.

Spring Cove last was in the LHAC during the 2006-07 year, before moving to the Mountain League the following school year.

Officials said the district was contacted a couple weeks ago by the LHAC with an invitation to join the league beginning in 2021-22. This invitation was not solicited by Spring Cove, said officials, who noted that the LHAC indicated that a response to the invitation was required by the end of March.

In gathering input to make a recommendation to the Spring Cove board, Athletic Director Stacy Kuster reviewed by-laws and league membership details for the LHAC, solicited input from head varsity and junior high coaches, conversed with other athletic directors and consulted SCSD’s transportation coordinators.

“We like the competition in the Mountain League, but geographically, the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference is just a better fit for us,” Kuster said.

Kuster and Stephanie Thompson, Central principal, presented the opportunity and their research to the Spring Cove board on March 9, along with a recommendation to move to the LHAC.

Reasons to consider moving to the LHAC, Kuster said, included the following:

1. Stability of the conference – the LHAC has 13 member schools (12 in football). Recently several Mountain League schools have expressed interest in leaving the conference (currently there are only eight member schools, including SCSD.

2. Full or near-full season schedules.

3. Travel distance. The average distance of LHAC schools from Central is 37 miles, compared to 57 miles from Central to Mountain League schools. The average mileage saved per round trip is 40 miles.

“All head varsity and junior high coaches were asked for input about a possible athletic conference change,” Kuster said. “The majority of coaches were in favor of changing to the LHAC. Many of the coaches liked the fact that the students would likely get home earlier on school nights. Several coaches also noted that the LHAC offers more regular-season competitions than the Mountain League.

“After considerable research and review of input from our coaches, it appears that moving to the LHAC is in the best, long-term interest of our athletic programs.”

Teams with whom Spring Cove will compete against in the LHAC include (listed alphabetically) Bedford, Bishop Carroll Catholic, Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic, Bishop McCort Catholic, Central Cambria, Chestnut Ridge, Forest Hills, Greater Johnstown, Penn Cambria, Richland, Somerset and Westmont Hilltop.

“We hope to maintain good relationships with and possibly even fill some non-conference games with Mountain League opponents,” Kuster said.

Coronavirus Update

Also during Monday’s meeting, Dr. Baker updated the school board on the coronavirus.

Effective today, as you know, our schools are closed; and all school events and activities are cancelled,” Dr. Baker said. “Only essential staff are reporting to work. We are encouraging our non-essential staff, students, families, and community to take everyday precautions for preventing illness and to practice social distancing.”

Said Dr. Baker, “We understand that our staff, students, families and community have many questions about how long we will be closed and what impact the closing will have. This is an unprecedented situation so it will take some time before anyone can provide definitive answers. For now, we are making decisions one day at a time based upon the guidance we are receiving. As we receive further direction, we will communicate it immediately. For now, we ask that our school community be patient in the uncertainty and make every effort to stay well.

School Safety, Security Grant Awards

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency (PCCD) recently announced the School Safety and Security Grant awards.

Spring Cove Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker said the district was awarded the full $162,313 for which it applied.

“The funds will pay for an additional police officer(s) for second-shift primarily, additional radios including bus radios, fixing the double-handled doors, a transaction window for CHS, security alarms for all offices, panic buttons for the administration building, a camera system for the CHS track, and additional electronic locks for the school offices,” Dr. Baker said.

In other news, Dr. Baker thanked the Central High School Music Parents for their donation of band uniforms at a total cost of approximately $33,000.

She also thanked Ritchey’s Dairy for its donation of $10,000 toward replacement of the two scoreboards in the Central High School gymnasium.