EPPING SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES - SAU 14

APPROVED
Member Dodge asked if there are other teams wearing uniforms that are not blue and white, to which
Athletic Director Averill confirmed that middle school cheerleaders are wearing red tee shirts with
blue Soffe® shorts because the size of the group is quite large (32) and there were not enough
uniforms for everyone. The tee shirts and shorts were again chosen for economic reasons. Member
Dodge questioned why red was chosen for the tee shirts rather than blue, to which Athletic Director
Averill replied, again, that he missed the directive and admitted that the tee shirts should have been
blue. Member Dodge felt that too many mistakes had been made and suspected that there was
something more behind this. He said that school identity is very important and a school’s colors and
mascot are what gives it an identity.
Superintendent Munsey confirmed that the April 24, 2008 directive was never put into policy and got
buried over the years.
Member Boelter commended the Athletic Director for saving money in replacing the uniforms. In his
opinion, it is not the position of the School Board to dictate colors of uniforms and the Athletic
Director should be able to poll coaches and decide what the uniforms should look like. Member Reed
disagreed and said that in order to insure consistency, the official school mascot and colors must be
governed by the School Board.
Robin O’Day came to the podium and said that this issue was all about honoring tradition, history,
and identity. Epping’s colors have always been blue and white, and the addition of red for the middle
school and black for the high school was done without proper permission. She said that coaches,
teachers, and administrators all come and go so they should not be the ones to decide school/uniform
colors, and the present inconsistency in uniform colors is proof of that. The school district is run by
the School Board which should be upholding Epping’s history.
Member Dodge motioned to take the vote of the Epping School Board on April 24, 2008 and
incorporate it into the athletic policy and handbook; seconded by Member Reed.
Athletic Director Averill restated that this happened because he missed the directive…it was not done
in a “fishy” or underhanded way. It was based solely on economics.
Chairman Mylott called for the vote. Motion carried 4:1:0 with Member Boelter voting nay.
Athletic Director Averill asked if this policy extends to warm-up gear, sweatshirts, sweatpants, etc.
that are purchased by the student-athletes, to which consensus was these purchases must be kept in
the spirit of the directive.
Member Reed asked the fate of the current uniforms, to which Chairman Mylott thought it would be
best to continue using the black uniforms this year, then replace them next year. It was confirmed
that there is no plan in place for the athletes to keep the black uniforms. If someone wishes to keep
their uniform, they may do so by paying the full replacement cost.
Athletic Director Averill asked if he should report athletic accomplishments to the Board at the end of
each season, in a similar fashion as other extra-curricular activities such as band, chorus, etc. The
Board replied in the affirmative. Member Boelter suggested that Athletic Director Averill ask the
student-athletes who receive awards and recognition to come to Board meetings to be recognized
publicly for their accomplishments.
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