Missoula trustees unanimously approve grant application to start girls flag football pilot

Missoula County Public Schools trustees voted unanimously to approve submitting a grant application to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation that would fund a three‑year pilot of girls flag football at three Missoula high schools.

Assistant Superintendent Shattuck introduced the item and turned the presentation over to activities directors from the district. "This is a pretty neat opportunity to add girls' flag football," said Nick Latch, activities director at Hellgate High School, adding that Montana currently participates in pilot programs and that the sport is gaining national attention.

The district presented enrollment survey results showing strong student interest: Sentinel High School reported roughly 52 students who expressed interest after an official survey, and Big Sky High School reported more than 36 interested students. Jack Youngs, activities director at Big Sky, said his school also has campus space and potential coaches available.

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation would offer a three‑year grant of $45,000 per school phased as $20,000 in year one, $15,000 in year two and $10,000 in year three, the presenters said. District staff provided a conservative per‑school budget example that included coach stipends, officials, equipment and transportation; presenters said transportation costs could be shared across the three schools and estimated substantially lower per‑school transportation if trips are coordinated for jamboree‑style competition.

"Last year 17 Montana high schools participated," Latch said, describing the district's opportunity to join a growing statewide program. He added that the National Federation of State High School Associations will publish rules and that the Montana High School Association currently recognizes girls flag football as an emerging sport.

Trustees asked whether participation would reduce numbers in other fall girls sports and whether small schools such as Seeley‑Swan (noted in questions) could participate. Josh Jonish, activities director at Sentinel, said about 80 percent of students who signed interest cards were not participating in a fall sport, and that adding a short season (about six to seven weeks, roughly Aug. 15–Oct. 4) could increase overall participation rather than pull athletes from established teams. Regarding Seeley‑Swan, district staff said small enrollment (about 85 students) could limit feasibility and that interscholastic eligibility and affiliation questions would be decided with the Montana High School Association.

Trustee questions about finances focused on the district’s carryover after the three‑year grant. Presenters said first‑year equipment purchases would be a one‑time cost, later reduced by reuse, and that shared transportation could lower the district's estimated per‑school transportation cost from $10,000 to about $3,300 in practice. Presenters said the Atlanta Falcons/Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation representatives indicated continuing interest and support beyond the initial three‑year grant and that other Montana districts have reported actual costs below early estimates.

Moved by Vice Chair Gares and seconded by Trustee Wake, the motion to approve submission of the grant application passed by unanimous voice/hand vote of the trustees present.

District staff said if the grant application is successful, the next step would be adding girls flag football as a pilot sport under the Montana High School Association and developing operational details (schedules, coach stipends, transportation plans) for the three schools.

The trustees and staff characterized the decision as approval to apply and, if the grant is awarded, to pilot the sport; no final commitment to program offerings beyond the grant‑award step was recorded in the meeting.

Ending

Trustees offered congratulatory remarks after the vote; the board recorded the motion as unanimous and moved on to the next agenda item. The district will return to the board with implementation details if the grant is awarded.