By Stephanie Herbert
Superintendent Jody Moehrle asked the board for “a bit of discussion” which led to 16 minutes of discussion at the July 15 meeting about a change in policy for student athletes who want to play in multiple sports in one season.
The change would mean that a student athlete could only participate in only one sport per season through a policy from the state’s Interscholastic Activities Committee.
The board requested making a change as part of the school’s athletic code. Superintendent Moehrle suggested the board would “probably like to see it here before the school year so we can review it.”
Board Member Tecla Druffel admitted that she’s “probably the least athletic board member ever” and asked how often this problem actually occurs for the district.
Board Member Nick Weber said this happened when a student did cross country and volleyball.
He added that this is hard on fellow team members and also on coaches.
“Between a meet and a game, from the coaching perspective, you have to remember who you have and when they are available,” Weber said. “And there are games that get missed because (students) can’t do two things at once.”
He agreed that it seems appropriate to let the school’s athletic committee write the policy.
Druffel asked if a hopefully purely hypothetical situation of a student who is “a real standout” and can handle the two sports. Board Member Ben Moehrle said it comes down to the timing of the games and the meets.
“So in the fall, if there’s a Saturday meet and a Saturday volleyball game, the student would have to choose which one to do,” he said.
Weber said it goes beyond the matches and can interfere with practice and participation.
Druffel asked if this policy would give parents some protection against being required to choose among multiple sports.
“You play the hand you’ve got and I want to make sure we’re being really student and family focused here,” she said.
“If I say I’m going to be available for a team sport, it means I’m going to be there,” the superintendent added. “It’s not just only being there unless I have something else to do, because the other players are counting on me.”
Board Member Jon Schlee said he’s “a little torn” to create an absolute policy, and that he’d “hate to limit a student’s interests” based on the policy.
“That’s a tough one,” he said. “You don’t want to stifle any participant from participating at any level.”
Druffel asked where the athletic director stands on the issue. The superintendent said he agrees with students only participating in one sport.
“Our numbers can be low, and we need to prepare in a practice and if we don’t have enough to participate in a contest then that impacts the whole team,” Superintendent Moehrle shared. “I appreciate not wanting to tromp on or stifle anyone’s dream, but if our numbers are low, it affects the rest of the team.”
In her report, the superintendent also announced:
- The basketball hoops taken out of the playground equipment will be available for schools for 30 days and then available for the general public to purchase.
- Three appliances were purchased under a Healthy Kids Healthy School grant including a new warmer, an ice machine and an oven.
- Shared an update on the playground equipment from three different companies. She said staff has set down brackets and the hardware so Motley and Motley can do the asphalt. The equipment includes a variety of items for both smaller and older students.
- Shared praise for Katie Eiler who received a $4,000 grant from Lewis and Clark Health Foundation for purchasing updated vision screening equipment to screen students. “This has allowed her to enhance her ability to provide more accurate and efficient and reliable assessment of vision issues that may impact learning ability,” Moehrle said.
In the meeting, the board also:
- The board approved the budget for the 2026-2027 school year after a 15 minute budget hearing
- Approved a three and a half percent increase in rates for the daycare
Jana Schultheis did not attend the meeting, which lasted 65 minutes. The next regular meeting is set for Aug. 27.###