If parents and their children get their way, boys and girls soccer teams could be fielded as early as next fall. But the school board tabled any action on the proposal at last week's meeting and stated the fall of 2010 would most likely be the best-case scenario should the district decide to add another sport. Board members also overwhelmingly stated they want to see the current athletic teams taken care of before expanding programs offered by the school. "I feel right now we're not adequately supporting our sports right now," said board member Don Maestas. "I would love to see soccer too - my two oldest boys played soccer and loved it - but right now I think we need to take care of what we have. Hopefully in the future we can add soccer." The last year the district is believed to have fielded a soccer team was in 2001, one year before the football program began varsity competition. The district is considering placing a no-tax increase bond issue on the April ballot to renovate and upgrade the athletic facilities, including irrigating the baseball and football fields and installing a MSHSAA-approved eight-lane track. The school board also was reluctant to add considerable expense to the district's overall budget after Superintendent Chris Gaines reported earlier in the evening the district had seen its deficit spending balloon to $353,000, up from $329,000. Officials estimate it would cost around $17,000 for one team ($34,000 overall for boys and girls teams) to begin soccer. The costs include uniforms, equipment, transportation, officials, coaches and district staff. Laura Marsh, who submitted the soccer proposal to the district, figured a team could be fielded for around $3,000 though her estimates did not include coaching salary, officials, transportation and officials. She also said numerous high schools in the area share their playing fields, though board members weren't too keen on the idea of having two athletic teams share the same field. "I believe it would be very good money spent toward the students and not toward anything else," Marsh told the board. "It is to improve their student life and give them an opportunity to do other things besides what is offered." In a survey conducted by Superintendent Chris Gaines, he said 100 students - 50 boys and girls each - identified themselves as current soccer players from fifth to 10th grade. "Soccer is inevitable for Wright City," Gaines said. "I question whether next year is the right year. I think 2010 is a little more appropriate time to give us an opportunity to do some work on the fields with voter approval. If not, it gives us some opportunities through operational dollars to do some fieldwork that needs to be done." A number of junior high-aged boys attended last week's meeting to show support for a soccer team. A number of those in attendance play on the same select traveling team. "I think it would be great to have a soccer team because one of the mottos for our school is 'Dedicated to our students success,' " seventh-grader Dillon Koch told board members. "The more sports teams that we have it creates unification between students." Parents are worried their kids won't have a fall sport to compete in should soccer not be added. Currently the district offers football and cross country for high school-aged boys during the fall. "I hope these young men sitting behind me who choose not to play football are not lost in the midst of not having an opportunity to participate in a school activity in that they truly enjoy," said parent Patrick Randolph. Nonetheless, board members said there needs to be more time to determine how adding soccer will affect current athletic programs and future budgets. "We have to be fiscally responsible," Mary Groeper said. "We're going to have to wait and see what the economy is next year and how this plays out with the voters. We have to keep our facilities in order and then add soccer." Melissa Springmeyer added: "If the bond issue doesn't pass, with the facilities and program we currently have, there is no way we can commit tonight to a program that we don't have."