South Callaway adds 5th, 6th grade basketball, reviews changes to accreditation standards

Tony Brandt, Activities Director and basketball head, successfully rallied the South Callaway School Board at their meeting Wednesday to approve a district-sponsored 5th and 6th grade boys and girls basketball program to begin in the upcoming spring.

Brandt said that such a program to function as a feeder program for 7th and 8th grades and high school basketball would drastically improve the skill level of incoming students.

Such a program existed at South Callaway before: Superintendent Mary Lynn Battles said the programs were canceled following changes in staff, but noted a demand for a younger-level basketball program this year.

"This year we had so many try out at middle school we had to cut, and you don't want to cut at middle school," she said. "And there was such a diverse level of skill with some who had played and some who hadn't."

Brandt said the program would boost both skills and confidence for incoming players. He said that similar programs existed for football and baseball as either club or summer activities at South Callaway.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.