Danville Area Community College begins fall semester classes on Monday, August 22nd. And during Thursday evening’s DACC Board of Trustees meeting there was a group wanting DACC to add some students. Volleyball playing students. A combination of about 15 area coaches, high school players, and parents pleaded the case for DACC to reinstate the program that was dropped about seven years ago. Leading the way, Salt Fork High School and State Line Volleyball Club coach Emily Franklin.
AUDIO: We had a really competitive season through my club. And I had a ton of girls that were asking, “Are you going to help me get recruited? How are we going to get recruited?” And I thought to myself, well, DACC’s missing out on an opportunity.
South Fork High School volleyball coach Emily Franklin and South Fork School District Board member Andrea Van Leer were two of many who addressed the DACC Board of Trustees about bringing back women’s volleyball.
South Fork School District Board member Andrea Van Leer, who has coached with Franklin, says this would be a win-win for the students, and the school.
AUDIO: These are the kind of students you want. Student athletes are the kind of students you want. And volleyball players are typically very smart and very driven. And they would be a definite asset to this college.
Multiple members of the board spoke very positively of looking into this, and president Dr. Stephen Nacco believes they should.
AUDIO: The message resonated with at least four of the seven, and that’s enough for us to spend some time. DACC spends a million dollars a year on it’s athletics, that’s the net cost of athletics. This is an additional expense. We’ve got to look at things like that.
Besides expense, Nacco says there are two other difficult issues. One, the gym is already pretty busy year ‘round with baseball and softball spring and fall indoor workouts, golf workouts; and of course, basketball. And, with all the volleyball equipment having been sold when it was dropped years ago, how do you solve THAT issue? Nacco said perhaps someone would like to donate new equipment, and maybe even there could be a naming rights possibility. But either way, there’s a good chance we’ll hear more. Incidentally all the other schools in DACC’s Midwest Athletic Conference do have women’s volleyball.
- The new DACC budget, in effect since July 1st, is now on display. Just go to DACC.edu. A public hearing will happen September 22nd during the next board meeting. Vice-President in Charge of Finance Tammy Betancourt says the total operating budget (Education, and Operations and Maintenance) is $18.3 million, up from last year’s $17.8 million; while the overall budget (which includes things outside of the board’s discretion such as restricted grants or specific tax levy funds) is $29 million, down from last year’s $35 million.
Meanwhile, DACC’s new Barbering program is entering into an $18,000 five-year lease with the Village Mall to set up shop there. Dr. Nacco says he has just received the letter from the state that makes the program official as of Thursday.
