Board tables athletic handbook after questions about coach‑student communication, booster roles and community engagement

Trustees reviewed a revised athletic handbook that district staff developed with coaches and community members and decided to table final approval pending edits and clarification.

Administrators and the handbook author explained the draft had been revised by a committee of coaches and community volunteers and incorporated Idaho High School Activities Association expectations and CTSO (career-technical student organization) travel. Board members raised three recurring concerns: how athletic staff will communicate with students and parents, how booster‑club fundraising and disbursement are coordinated with district policy, and how the district will handle rare instances when a coach may need to transport a student.

Key outcomes and requests - Communication: trustees asked administrators to require district‑approved team communication platforms (for example, the Stack Team app) and to explicitly prohibit one‑to‑one coach texting with a student unless a parent or guardian is included on the message; administrators said building leaders will require that party apps be secured and administrators be notified of which apps are used. - Boosters and fundraising: trustees asked clearer language on how booster groups and parent fundraising communicate with and support teams; administrators said booster organizations are parent‑run but recommended district policy to clarify communication, coordination and any common fundraising vehicle for district groups moving forward. - Transportation/coach rides: the handbook clarifies that coach transportation of students is a last resort and allowed only in emergencies; trustees said the emergency threshold should be explicit and that any such transport is subject to building administrator oversight. - Implementation and publication: administrators will run the draft through a grammar check, add highlighted edits for board review, and return a revised handbook at the July meeting with clarified language on page references and communication apps. The board requested that any party apps be listed and that the handbook require administrators to approve app usage and security measures.

Procedural note The board tabled action on the athletic handbook to give administrators time to incorporate the requested clarifications and to circulate a redline/highlighted version before the July meeting.