Community members urge Lennox board to support girls' soccer program and facility access

Community members urged the Lennox Board of Trustees to support a new girls' soccer program and to grant access to district facilities during the off-season.

Victor Valdez, who identified himself as a long‑time athletic director in the community, told the board that "Title 9 means if we offer it for male students, we must offer it for female students," and argued the district should support training and opportunities that keep girls engaged past middle school. Valdez said the proposed program aims to build participation among young women who later attend local high schools.

Several other community speakers described gaps in available girls’ teams and offered to organize a program that would begin at Jefferson Elementary and use Dennis Academy facilities in the off-season. One speaker, Jose Luis (surname variously given in the record), said he has previously coached girls’ teams and helped players get scholarships, and requested permission to use district fields and support from the district for permitting and grant-seeking.

Speakers emphasized community-led fundraising and grant applications rather than immediate district budget commitments. No formal board action was taken during public comment; the matter was recorded for board and staff follow-up. Trustees did not vote on granting facility use at the meeting, and no binding commitment or official district program adoption was recorded in the transcript.