Staff member presented district analysis and community outreach about restarting a high school softball program, saying the district surveyed middle- and high-school parents and reviewed five years of girls-sports participation data. The staff member said the survey produced 58 responses and that 16 current high-school–age students indicated some interest next year; of those 16, nine reported no prior softball experience. The presenter said those numbers and the competitiveness of schools in the Patriot League led staff to recommend building youth participation and stronger city partnerships before launching a high-school team.

The nut graf: The discussion focused on whether the district should start a new varsity-level program now or invest first in feeder programs and community partnerships so a program would be sustainable and safe. Trustees pressed staff for enrollment-and-budget context and next steps; no formal action or vote on starting softball occurred.

Board questions and staff response
Board members asked about timelines, coach availability and the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) registration-deadline rules. Board member Chris Brown asked whether the district could meet CHSAA deadlines and what would happen if the district signed up and later could not field a team. The staff member said the CHSAA declaration had been opened for softball and described the practical consequence: if the district entered a season and then forfeited, it could affect standing in future scheduling cycles.

Several trustees, including Board member Minnie Smith and Board member John Coney, asked about feeder programs and local club participation. The staff member described conversations with local club leaders, naming Ally Schneider (a regional club coach) as saying the community is not yet at the level to sustain a high-school program. The presenter recommended deeper cooperation with the city’s recreational programs and producing aligned coaching materials so younger athletes gain fundamentals that feed into middle- and high-school squads.

Data and capacity concerns
The staff member said the district’s girls-sports teams have had low participation and that fielding a competitive program likely would take several years. The presenter noted the Patriot League and nearby Northern Colorado programs have deep talent pools that would make early competitiveness unlikely. Board member Amy Grantham asked about participation in recent city-run seasons; staff said concrete participation data from the city’s short fall season was not yet available and that staff planned meetings with city recreation staff in November and December to pursue partnerships and shared development resources.

Budget and enrollment context
Board member Nancy Hopper raised budget questions tied to October count and enrollment declines. The staff member recapped the district’s October-count snapshot, saying the district was approximately 99 students down as of the week before the meeting and that a two-year averaging scenario had the district about 40 students down; those figures will continue to change as the final count is certified. Trustees emphasized they need updated fiscal figures before committing resources to a new sport.

Next steps and board direction
No motion was made to start a program. Trustees signaled they wanted staff to continue outreach, meet with the city and report back with updated participation data, budget implications and recommended timelines. The board will consider a formal decision at a future meeting once staff returns with additional information.