BROWNSTOWN
The start of archery at Brownstown schools is now in sight.
Brownstown Central Community School Corp. staff members chosen to help get the National Archery in the Schools Program started will receive training Jan. 29 in the high school auxiliary gym.
That was announced by Superintendent Tim Taylor during Tuesday night’s board of school trustees meeting.
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He also said Marty Young, who switched from serving as the middle school dean of students and athletic director to the elementary school assistant principal this school year, has agreed to lead the program.
"Marty took the ball gladly and ran with it," Taylor said. "It’s all on the horizon. It’s going to be here soon. Big thanks to Marty for that."
Archery was first introduced by Taylor at the start of the 2019-20 school year. Several people then reached out to him about volunteering, including a couple who are certified with NASP.
NASP is an in-school program aimed at improving educational performance among students in grades 4 through 12, and through it, students learn focus, self-control, discipline, patience and the life lessons required to be successful in the classroom and in life, according to naspschools.org.
Seymour is the only other Jackson County school that offers archery now, and it’s popular at schools in nearby Jennings and Scott counties.
Taylor was the principal at Jennings County High School from July 1, 2008, to Dec. 31, 2014, when it was offered at the school. The program still is strong there on an annual basis, and Hayden Elementary School, which is in the same school corporation, won a national title in 2019.
In October 2019, Brownstown trustees unanimously approved to start the program at the beginning of 2020.
That got delayed and then was pushed back even more when the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to close and shift to eLearning in March 2020.
Now, the time is right to get the program rolling.
The physical education teachers at the elementary, middle and high schools also will go through NASP training so they can teach an archery unit in their classes.
Students will have to meet eligibility requirements to be a part of an archery team just like they do to participate in other sports.
A couple of the school trustees expressed their appreciation for getting the program going in Brownstown.
"I really appreciate the work on the archery. That interests me," David Martin said.
Mary Lou Burcham thanked Young for the impact he’s making, not only with archery but with the elementary school.
"Not only have I heard positive things from parents, but I’ve heard them all the way down to kindergarten," she said. "I just want to thank you for being the person we need to have shine down there."