Brett Shepherd addressed the Hardin County Board of Education during the public-visitor portion of the Dec. 20 meeting and asked the board to make a one-time exception to district policy to allow his son, Gunnar, a homeschooled student, to finish the Central Hardin Middle School wrestling season.

Shepherd said Gunnar wrestled with the team last season through a private club affiliated with the school and was an active participant until this season, when district or high-school athletics officials determined he was ineligible because he is homeschooled. "He loves his team," Shepherd said, and asked the board to allow his son to finish the season, noting there is about a month remaining.

Shepherd told the board that Kentucky does not guarantee homeschool students the right to participate in public-school athletics and that districts have discretion over eligibility. He asked the board to consider the family's situation as an active-duty military family and to make a timely decision before the season ends.

Shepherd offered a written letter prepared by his wife for the board's review and said he appreciated the board's consideration. The board did not make an immediate decision during the meeting; trustees said they would review the request.

The matter was presented as a public comment and not an agenda item; Shepherd requested a board exception to policy rather than filing an appeal or requesting a rule change during the session.