Kennett High School is establishing a Sports Hall of Fame to “recognize and honor outstanding individuals and teams who have accomplished extraordinary athletic achievements.”

The Kennett School Board formally approved the creation of the Sports Hall of Fame at its meeting on Oct. 14.

Kennett High School has had numerous athletes with impressive accomplishments through the years. Just one example is Robert Morse, who was recently recognized with a plaque at Kennett’s Legacy Field. Morse was a standout in basketball during his time at Kennett and went on to play professional basketball at the international level. A number of sports teams also left a lasting legacy—the state championship basketball team is just one example. This year’s football squad is enjoying quite a good season as well.

In other business at the meeting:

In his Finance Committee report, school board member Michael Finnegan informed his colleagues that the Act 1 Index for the 2020-2021 school year will be approximately 2.6 percent. For the Kennett Consolidated School District, the adjusted Act 1 Index limit for 2020-2021 is 3 percent. The Act 1 Index limit is the maximum amount that a Pennsylvania school district can raise taxes without going to voters for approval of the tax increase through a referendum.

Finnegan noted that the timeline for preparing the budget for 2020-2021 will be sped up a little bit because it is a Presidential election year, and the Primary Election in Pennsylvania is taking place earlier than normal. Consequently, the school board will likely be approving a preliminary budget in January.

Finnegan emphasized that the school district, as always, will be working to limit the size of the tax increase for the next fiscal year.

Finnegan also reported that the Finance Committee had taken a look at the district-wide enrollment figures. The kindergarten enrollment has declined in recent years, and if that trend doesn’t change the overall enrollment in the school district will also drop as larger classes graduate and are replaced by smaller ones.

The school board approved a request for a new student organization to be named “Best Buddies.” This organization, which is national, will create opportunities for one-to-one friendships with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Student Organization Constitution for the organization has already been completed, and the high school administration, student officers, and a club advisor have also signed off on the Kennett High School chapter of the club.

The school board approved four student trips. The Kennett High School wrestling team is traveling upstate to take part in the Coal Cracker Tournament in late January. There will be a ski trip for the Kennett Ski Club next March, and a student trip to the UK and Ireland is also in the planning stages. The school board also approved a World War II trip for students who have taken World War II studies, but this trip won’t take place until March of 2021. They are planning that trip far in advance so that students and their families can prepare for the costs for the trip.

The Kennett School Board will meet again on Monday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center. This will be the final meeting of the school board before it reorganizes in early December. The newly elected school board members will be sworn in at the reorganization meeting.