Vidor Independent School District trustees voted 4–3 on Aug. 11 to adopt a resolution that prohibits non‑enrolled students (including homeschooled students) from participating in school‑sponsored extracurricular activities or UIL competitions on behalf of the district.

The vote followed nearly two hours of public comment and trustee discussion about logistics, fairness, safety and financial impacts of the change. The board’s adoption means the district will notify UIL and update local policy FM (as the resolution directs) before the state’s filing deadline.

Why this matters: The Texas Legislature recently directed districts to set a policy either allowing or declining participation by non‑enrolled students. The decision affects access to athletics, band, choir, career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) and other activities; it also interacts with state funding rules and UIL guidance. Trustees said the law’s limited and sometimes unclear guidance made local implementation complex, and the board debated whether to allow a one‑year trial or to opt out immediately. The board chose to opt out at this time.

Board debate and public comments: Public commenters included CTE staff who raised concerns about homeschool students joining CTSOs without classroom instruction and consistent eligibility oversight; parents who urged districts to opt in so homeschoolers could participate locally; and teachers and coaches who said allowing non‑enrolled students could create inequities and logistical burdens. Speaker excerpts recorded in the meeting included concerns about accountability, transportation and team cohesion; at least one parent described a separate personal safety grievance unrelated to this item during public comment.

Trustees split over competing priorities. Supporters of opting in argued the district should try allowing participation for one year and collect data, noted possible additional state payments per participating student reported by commenters, and emphasized community inclusion. Trustees voting to opt out cited uncertainty in law and implementation, risks to daily attendance and state funding tied to average daily attendance, supervision and safety questions, and strong opposition from many teachers and staff who contacted the board.

The motion and vote: The motion to adopt a resolution prohibiting non‑enrolled student participation was made by Trustee Camp and seconded by Trustee Long. The board recorded a roll‑call-style show of hands: four trustees voted in favor and three opposed; the presiding officer announced the motion carried.

What the resolution says and next steps: The resolution directs the superintendent or designee to submit the adopted resolution and the amended FM local policy to UIL (and to TASB for the online policy manual) by the timeline specified in UIL guidance. Trustees and staff said the decision can be revisited in future years; UIL set future filing dates earlier in the year (August 1 in future cycles) and the law requires districts to re‑adopt annually if they choose to change their status. The district will monitor implementation issues and compare policy outcomes with neighboring districts that choose to opt in.

Unresolved implementation questions: Trustees and staff repeatedly noted legal and operational uncertainties in state guidance and UIL FAQs: whether districts may cap the number of non‑enrolled participants, how to handle students who live in one district but are closer to another that opts in, whether specific extracurricular areas (career/technical labs, shop classes, travel) require additional safety checks or insurance, and timing (how late in a season a non‑enrolled student could join). Trustees directed administration to gather information from other districts and legal counsel and report back.

What to expect next: The district will transmit required notices to UIL and TASB as the resolution directs and collect data and observations during the coming year. Trustees said they expect to review how neighboring districts implement the law, how UIL refines guidance, and whether the district should revisit the policy in future board cycles.

Ending: The policy change takes effect for the 2025–26 school year as laid out in the board resolution; the board emphasized this is an annual policy decision and invited ongoing feedback from teachers, parents and administrators.