Parents and USTA Push Central District 301 to Add Tennis; Call Also Made for Boys Volleyball

Multiple parents and a representative of the United States Tennis Association urged the Central Community Unit School District 301 Board of Education to add a boys and girls tennis program on Wednesday, saying the sport would expand athletic options for students and could be partly funded by outside grants.

The push began in public comment from area parents and volunteers and continued with a presentation by a USTA official. Parent speaker Doug Yvonne said the program would benefit families and students and be inexpensive for families, while volunteer organizer Marla Roach described survey results showing broad local support. Gina Jasevic, who identified herself as executive director for USTA Northern Illinois (Midwest section), described grant and technical support the organization offers.

The advocates said tennis offers lifetime fitness and team camaraderie but requires little equipment. “For the central parents, what a better way to support our children who prefer individual sports and still have them benefit from team camaraderie,” parent speaker Doug Yvonne said. Marla Roach, a parent volunteer, told the board a grassroots survey reached 183 D301 taxpayers and showed 99% support for tennis in the district; she said USTA can provide architects and engineering at no cost and has a grant program that will fund up to 50% of new courts, up to $200,000.

Why it matters: speakers said adding tennis would expand extracurricular access, keep students active, and could attract families to the district. Several speakers also connected a potential court facility to revenue opportunities — hosting USTA events, summer camps and lessons — that they said could help sustain the program.

Details from the meeting: - Marla Roach said “there are over almost 20 neighborhood courts within our D301 boundaries” and that many are in frequent use. She also said a nearby experienced varsity tennis coach has expressed interest in coaching in-district. Roach said the USTA grant “is willing to fund up to 50% of new courts up to $200,000.” - Gina Jasevic (USTA Northern Illinois) said the organization provides architecture, resurfacing guidance, free equipment for students and coach training; she said the USTA helps schools and park districts apply for facility grants and supports free programming and equipment. - Lee Bennett, an Illinois High School Association referee who spoke separately about boys volleyball, said the district currently does not offer boys volleyball and asked the board to explain whether it will. “Does the district plan on providing boys volleyball? If not, why not?” Bennett asked.

Discussion versus decision: the board did not take any formal action on athletics during the meeting. Superintendent and board members encouraged interested community members to contact the superintendent’s office so the topic can be placed on a future agenda; Superintendent comments indicated the earliest it could be discussed would be the August meeting if the board chooses to place it on the agenda.

Next steps and constraints: speakers and district staff noted funding and space are constraints. Roach and other parents proposed private fundraising and USTA grants to reduce pressure on the district budget. The board and superintendent invited interested parents to contact district staff (including Athletic Director Kyle Schumacher) to pursue options and to request the topic be added to a future agenda.

Ending: Board members said they had not previously heard strong community interest in tennis and boys volleyball; they asked parents to follow up with the superintendent’s office so the board can consider adding the topic to an upcoming meeting agenda.