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Kennewick board asks staff to study new sports offerings after survey finds interest in swim, flag football and weightlifting
Summary
Following an OSPI-required student athletic-interest survey and public input, the board asked staff to do feasibility work on adding boys swim & dive, girls flag football and other athletics; staff emphasized facility, scheduling and recurring-cost considerations.
The Kennewick School District Board of Directors directed staff to complete feasibility research into possible new athletic offerings after a district- and state-administered student interest survey showed measurable interest in several sports not currently offered as WIAA-sanctioned school sports.
Staff and athletics director Matt (presenting staff member) said the OSPI survey allowed students to select up to six sports; the most-requested activities that the district does not currently offer as sanctioned school sports included weightlifting, badminton and boys volleyball at some levels, and, among WIAA sports not offered by the district, boys swim & dive, girls flag football and slow-pitch softball were raised.
What staff will study: recurring and initial costs (coaching stipends, transportation, facility rental or upgrades, equipment and athletic trainer workload), league availability and competition within the Mid-Columbia Conference, field and pool space availability and the timing of seasons to avoid displacing existing programs. Staff noted that boys swim & dive would require indoor pool time for winter practices; girls flag football is a spring sport and could conflict for some athletes with track and softball; slow-pitch softball and other options were also discussed.
Community and board comments urged exploring club-to-sport transitions and better support for existing student clubs (for example, lacrosse), improved field lighting and use of district turf fields. Board members asked staff to return with cost estimates in time to consider levy planning and to assess whether light-and-field improvements could be included in capital projects.
No final additions were approved; the board requested feasibility reports and specific cost scenarios for possible inclusion in levy or capital planning.
