Rockridge receives request for family night

Pastor Mark Eddy, Zion Lutheran Church, spoke to the Rockridge School board Monday night, May 11, 2009, with a request for the board to look at scheduling a night off for families to spend more time together. It was not necessarily promoted as a "Church Night" Pastor Eddy said he met with Father Barcliff, and Superintedent Jack Bambrick in the fall on the same topic, where he learned that sports schedules are sometimes made out three years in advance for the conference.

"The schedules are made out through the 2011-2012 school year at the conference level for the junior high," said Katie Hasson, current junior high principal.

Hasson said that the schools in Prairieland Conference took a poll at the January meeting and none have a church night. Orion came the closest to having any accommodation, with offering one night a month. "It also came up at our March meeting," said Hasson. "It's not something we could just change right away."

Pastor Eddy said that Mercer County is also looking at this issue.

"Brian Dennison brought it up in March at the conference level," said Hasson.

"We're looking for this for all levels, pre-kindergarten through 12," said Hasson.

"We think that would be good," said Pastor Eddy.

Board member Susan Neece was supportive of this idea, especially if there were some planned events.

Pastor Neece said that the Baptist Church in Andalusia has services on Wednesday nights and sometimes there are classes, services or dinners held at other churches. "I don't think that we would be able to do curriculum based things," he added.

Board member Tom Verschoore said, "A lot of churches have tutoring nightly."

Board president Tim Keller suggested that one night a month would be a good place to start.

The board took no action on the request.