By Heather Tassmer, Times Editor, htassmer@berksmontnews.com

Oley Valley is working on a cooperative pilot football program with Central Catholic.

The school board approved entering into the two-year cooperative program with Central Catholic during a meeting on Oct. 21. If approved by Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, this agreement would allow Oley Valley High school students to play football for Central Catholic.

Members didn’t want to rush on making a decision for the program, but the deadline to send the paperwork to the PIAA was Oct. 23 so it could be approved by Nov. 1.

The cost will be about $300 per student which includes equipment, refurbishing of equipment expenses and “general overhead,” according to Oley school officials.

For 15 Oley students, the total estimated cost is $10,800, said Superintendent Jeffrey F. Zackon.

“Costs are certainly a major concern,” said School Board President Bob Heckman. “I think this is a wonderful opportunity. This is all next year’s budget not this year’s budget. I would hope we could have some cost sharing between players, families, students and the (football) alliance.”

Zackon said the district could use vans to transport students if there weren’t a lot of students involved in the program. This would cut down on the cost. The figures presented to the board were figuring in students being bused to practices and games.

The idea for the agreement came after Zackon and School Board Member Carl Kubitz discussed teaming up with another school.

Officials from Oley met with the Athletic Director Jeff Kolb and Superintendent Joann Heintz to discuss the possibility of the program.

By entering into this agreement, Central Catholic’s football team will change from A to AAA.

Before voting on the item, board members had a chance to further discuss the subject and talk to Heintz and Kolb who were in attendance that evening.

Heintz was asked if she has any concerns about the agreement and she said she doesn’t since Central Catholic had a cooperative agreement with Antietam.

Oley’s athletic director, Tim Rhoads said that the districts had good starting points for students to play football together and the agreement was a very reasonable proposal.

“I was never comfortable with how we would have jumped into a full-blown football program here at Oley for various different reasons...anything from facilities which is fields to locker rooms,” said David Maloney. “I feel that this gives an opportunity as long as everything is worked out that will allow young men to participate without it being a major investment for Oley Valley.”

Other board members including were in agreement saying that the administration and athletic director have worked hard researching and talking to Central Catholic and that Central Catholic was a good match for Oley to have an agreement.

The board also invited public comment before voting on the agreement.

One of the attendees had questions on the total amount this program would cost for the district.