Marshfield High School Adds Four New Athletic Programs for Fall Season

School Committee approves unified athletics, boys JV golf, girls golf, and girls rugby to expand opportunities for student participation in sports.

MARSHFIELD - July 22 - The Marshfield School Committee unanimously approved the addition of four new athletic programs at Marshfield High School during its July meeting, expanding opportunities for student participation in sports.

The new programs include unified athletics, boys JV golf, girls golf, and girls rugby. Athletic Director William Battis presented the proposal to the committee, emphasizing the strong student interest and community support for these additions.

"We're very fortunate because even though our adolescent population in my time here in 32 years has gone down over 30 years, we still have great participation in athletics," Battis said. "The 24-25 school years are over 71% of our students they are at least one athletic member on the high school, which is great."

The unified athletics program, which pairs students with and without disabilities, had already received funding approval in previous years but took time to implement. The program successfully launched a unified track and field team in the spring, which competed in league competitions.

"Because it was such a great interest, in the fall, we'd like to start a unified basketball program," Battis said.

The girls golf team represents a significant expansion of opportunities for female student-athletes. Last year's inaugural season attracted 12 female participants with two volunteer coaches.

"We had 12 girls that played for each other, because most of them are freshmen, and they see, you know, that girls' golf team, we had an additional four players set up," Battis explained.

Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Tom Miller noted that golf programs require minimal financial investment compared to other sports. The costs are particularly low because both the Marshfield Country Club and the Green Harbor Country Club provides free access, and teams use existing 14-passenger vans for transportation rather than requiring bus service.

"The costs associated with golf are the least of any sport that we have, because it's coached, and that's everything involved," Miller said. "The golf is free from Marshfield Country Club and Green Harbor."

The boys JV golf program addresses the need for additional playing opportunities as the varsity program has grown significantly. The athletic director reported that last year's golf team had 31 members, creating a need for expanded programming.

Committee members expressed enthusiasm for the new programs, particularly the expansion of opportunities for female athletes.

The athletic director acknowledged ongoing discussions about additional sports, including wrestling and rugby at the middle school level, which could serve as feeder programs for high school athletics.

"Some sports, like wrestling, like rugby, if you get them earlier, you know, they're more likely to say, well, there's a goal in the high school," Battis said.

Superintendent Patrick Sullivan praised the community's support for athletics and the high participation rates among students. He emphasized that the additions align with the district's commitment to providing diverse opportunities for all students.

The unified athletics program particularly supports the district's focus on inclusion and belonging, which represents one of the pillars in the district's strategic plan. The program creates opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in competitive athletics alongside their peers.

Miller emphasized that the unified athletics program was already funded through previous budget approvals, making the implementation primarily a matter of organization and coaching rather than additional financial burden.

The committee's approval allows the programs to begin immediately, with unified basketball starting in the fall season and the golf programs continuing their established schedules. The girls golf team will compete in the spring season, while boys JV golf will operate during the fall season alongside the varsity program.

The athletic director noted that all new programs have identified coaching staff and volunteer support, ensuring proper supervision and instruction for participating students.

Other Major Items from the Meeting:

• The committee approved redistricting the Mill Creek Complex to South River Elementary School, affecting approximately 42 students expected to move into the new residential development.

• Discussion of athletic fee increases was postponed to allow for subcommittee review, with the last fee increase occurring in 2018 and the athletic program currently facing a significant deficit.

• The committee outlined the evaluation process for Superintendent Patrick Sullivan, selecting specific indicators across four educational leadership standards for assessment.

• Substitute teacher daily rates increased from $125 to $140 to improve recruitment and retention, while other substitute position rates remained under review.

• Building rental rates across the district increased significantly, with most rates doubling from previous levels to address revenue shortfalls in the building rental account.

• The committee accepted a grant from the Marshfield Education Foundation totaling $151,678.12 for various educational programs and initiatives.

Full meeting available via MCM.