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Board renews Minnesota State High School League membership as activities director reports new programs and state finalists
Summary
The Columbia Heights board unanimously renewed membership in the Minnesota State High School League on May 27; Activities Director Jake Henderson reported inaugural seasons for boys volleyball and girls flag football, a state speech champion and other spring highlights.
The Columbia Heights School Board on May 27 voted to renew the district’s membership in the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), a step board members said is necessary to allow school teams and activity groups to compete in league‑sanctioned events.
The membership resolution delegates interscholastic control to the MSHSL under Minnesota statute and the league’s handbook; the board approved the resolution by roll‑call vote.
Activities Director Jake Henderson gave a spring update before the membership vote, highlighting new programs and postseason participation. Henderson said the district ran inaugural girls flag football at the middle school and launched boys volleyball at the high school; boys volleyball’s season ended in a section loss to Brooklyn Center. He also noted Columbia Heights had a state speech champion (Taymoy Epps), multiple state qualifiers in speech, a synchronized swimming team that attended state and visual art entries that scored among the highest in the Minnesota State High School League judging.
Henderson told the board about a busy summer slate of camps and activities, including dance, tennis, theater and strength camps, and emphasized efforts to keep activity costs affordable and to publicize fee‑reduction and scholarship options for families. He noted the district offers a sliding fee scale tied to free and reduced‑price lunch status and said scholarship requests have not been turned away.
Why it matters: Membership in the MSHSL is the standard mechanism by which Minnesota schools compete in athletics, speech and fine arts; renewing membership ensures Columbia Heights can continue to enter teams and students into league competitions. The activities update illustrated program growth and student achievement, from state finalists to new seasonal offerings.
What’s next: The district will move forward under MSHSL rules for the coming seasons; Activities will continue summer programming and work to improve outreach about fee assistance for families.
