Parents and students urge District 15 to allow sixth graders on middle-school track teams

Dozens of parents, students and community volunteers urged the Palatine Community Consolidated School District 15 Board of Education on Feb. 18 to include sixth graders on middle-school track teams, arguing the change would increase equity and provide early competitive experience.

The comments came during the public-comment portion of the board meeting and included personal testimony from students and parents as well as technical observations from a veteran track official.

“We should ensure that all students who want to participate in athletics have an opportunity to do so,” said Laurie Gonzales, a longtime Palatine resident and parent, who said she coaches with the Palatine Pack running club. Gonzales told the board that before the pandemic Winston’s program had more than 100 runners and that neighboring districts manage larger rosters. “Track is an outdoor, no‑cut sport. Having 30 more athletes is not going to make a difference.”

Sixth-grade students also spoke. “We are part of this school. We belong, yet we are not allowed to be part of the team,” said Madeline (Maddie) Gonzales, a sixth grader at Winston. She described how track offers events beyond distance running — sprints, throws and jumps — that allow different students to showcase strengths.

Lindsay Konsdorf, who identified herself as a track and field official with 15 years of experience, told the board the district’s decision removes a year of competition that matters to student development. “The number of years of activity and competition directly affects the ability of students to achieve in their high school years,” she said. “By removing a full year of competition out of only a potential seven that a student may have, we kneecap those students.”

Several speakers asked the board to reconsider the district’s current approach — which the public described as relying on intramurals or limited “no‑cut” offerings rather than full interscholastic teams for sixth graders in the spring — and to open a formal discussion with administrators. Parents said they gathered more than 300 signatures in one day in support of including sixth graders on track teams.

Board members did not take action on the subject during the meeting. Superintendent Michelle Hines and district staff who presented later in the agenda did not announce immediate policy changes; the matter remains under administrative consideration.

Speakers asked the district to consider transitional planning if the board does not approve immediate inclusion: several parents suggested enhanced intramural programming, clearer expectations for rising sixth graders, and improved communication so students understand what opportunities will be available.