Junior Lions organizer seeks board guidance on governance and league change; board and staff to follow up

Andrew Ferguson, who said he took over the Junior Lions youth football program late last year, asked the Cannon County Board of Education for guidance about the program's relationship with the district and how to handle finances and governance after a league change.

Ferguson told the board the programhas moved into a new league (Duck River Valley Youth Football) and expanded its age range; he said the program this year will field four teams. Ferguson said the program's funds are currently held in an account at Cannon County Elementary School and that community members have warned that forming a 501(c)(3) could jeopardize that funding and donated equipment. "We have been told that if we do that, we will lose all funding that we have in our account and all equipment that was donated to us for purchase," Ferguson said.

Board members and staff indicated a need to clarify the district's policy on booster-type organizations, accounts held on school property and the relationship between independently run youth organizations and the school district. Ferguson said coaches' agreements are in place and that the program has grown from two teams to four teams with additional older players joining due to league structure differences among neighboring towns.

The board did not issue a formal ruling at the workshop; members asked staff to verify existing web-posted guidance and the districtpolicy that applies to community athletic organizations, and to follow up with Ferguson on options that protect district funds and donated equipment while allowing the program to operate. The board also discussed competitive balance concerns when fifth graders may play against older fifth- and sixth-grade players from other towns.

Ferguson asked for clear written guidance so the program can operate in a consistent, transparent way going forward.