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District athletic leaders propose adding middle-school cheer program; board hears budget and implementation details
Summary
District staff proposed a three-season middle-school cheer program covering football and boys/girls basketball, outlined startup and annual costs, and described tryout timing; the board discussed access, cuts and equity but did not vote.
District athletic staff presented a proposal on March 24 to add organized cheer programs at middle schools for the 2025–26 school year covering three seasons: eighth-grade football, girls basketball and boys basketball. The proposal would create sideline spirit squads and stunt groups and is designed to align middle-school sport offerings with neighboring districts.
Clint Glaser, district athletic director, and Erica Waller, associate principal at Trail Ridge, described the proposal and estimated both one-time startup and recurring costs. Waller said, “Students that decide to participate in cheer could participate in 1 season or all 3 depending on what other athletic interests they have.” She described three squads per middle school (one per season) and an approach that would allow students to participate in seasons that do not conflict with other sports.
Estimated costs: the staff presented startup capital outlay items (uniforms, equipment, safety mats) and ongoing general-fund costs (coaching stipends and busing). District figures given in the presentation include an estimated one-time capital/equipment cost of roughly $125,000 for the program startup and recurring annual general-fund costs of roughly $37,000–$38,000 (staffing and transportation). The district also estimated a larger total startup planning number on the slides (approximately $100–125K) and a recurring personnel cost of about $30,000 (roughly $6,000 per school) plus $8,500 for additional bus trips; staff said those estimates would be refined.
Board discussion focused on access, fairness and timing. Trustees asked whether tryouts would occur in spring (some sixth graders could find out over the summer they had not made a squad), how split feeder patterns would be handled, and whether students with club experience would have an advantage. Staff noted that the activity could include cuts, as occurs with some existing middle‑school sports, and emphasized ways to rotate squads or expand numbers if interest exceeded initial projections.
Next steps: staff said the proposal would appear as a consent item for board consideration following any required collective-bargaining negotiations (coaching stipend language is a negotiated item). The board did not take action at the March 24 meeting; trustees asked staff to monitor interest, coach availability and uniform/equipment planning and to return with a final recommendation.
Ending: Staff said they would refine costs and implementation procedures, coordinate with feeder patterns so students are not lost in transitions, and bring a consent/approval item forward after necessary negotiations.
