Parents, coaches press Millington school leaders on lack of middle‑school gym time; staff point to season priorities and space limits

Parents and volunteer coaches told the Millington Municipal Schools Board of Education that the middle‑school boys basketball team lacks reliable access to the front (hardwood) gym for practices and that the back gym’s worn tile floor creates trip hazards and reduces effective practice time.

The concerns surfaced both during the director of schools report and the public‑comment period, when several people described repeated cancellations or practices held only in the back gym or at off‑campus sites. One parent, speaking during public comment, said the team has practiced on the front court only twice since August and that the boys have not had sufficient time to adjust to a hardwood floor before games. Grandmother and volunteer Renee Flannick said some families lack transportation and that relying on church gyms requires vans or other transport volunteers.

District staff and school administrators told the board that the space shortage stems from combining middle and high school facilities at the same campus, heavy overlapping seasons (volleyball, football, cheer and multiple basketball teams), and a policy of giving in‑season varsity activities priority for the front gym. Director of Schools Griffin said athletic directors Perry and Hawkins are working on a rotating schedule and that staff hoped to distribute a new schedule by the end of the week. Facilities constraints cited included the back gym’s tile floor (not wood), wall‑to‑wall wrestling mats in the former wrestling gym, and the risk of damaging expensive wrestling mats by frequently rolling them up.

Parents and speakers asked whether the district could use temporary off‑campus spaces (church gyms or Navy facilities) and noted transportation is an obstacle for many families; the district indicated some churches have offered space but transportation and logistics remain complications. In response to questions about district buses, transportation staff reported both buses are operational after recent repairs and said bus scheduling through the athletic director is available to support team travel.

Board members and staff described a longer‑term solution: a new middle‑school gymnasium is expected within about 18 months, which officials said will ease the conflict once finished. Board members and parents said they want clearer short‑term communication from coaches and the athletic department when schedules change and asked staff to prioritize equitable access for middle‑school athletes while varsity postseason events require front‑gym use.

No formal motion or vote on facilities or schedule changes took place during the meeting; district staff described ongoing scheduling work and committed to follow‑up with affected families and coaches.