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Parents and community members urge board to let Early College students join Pisgah and Tuscola extracurriculars; board tables policy changes for 30 days
Summary
Parents and community members urged the Haywood County Schools Board on Feb. 10 to let Haywood Early College students participate in extracurriculars at Pisgah and Tuscola, saying the restriction forces families to choose between a better academic fit and access to athletics and arts.
Multiple parents and community members addressed the Haywood County Schools Board during the Feb. 10 public-comment period to ask the board to reconsider a district practice that prevents Haywood Early College students from participating in extracurricular activities at Pisgah and Tuscola.
Sydney Piper, speaking for her family and neighbors, asked the board to allow Early College students to participate in athletics, band and chorus at the traditional high schools. Piper said the current restriction forces families to choose between a smaller, supportive academic setting and access to extracurricular activities that provide a social outlet and possible pathways to college athletics.
Erin Araghi raised separate but related concerns about school safety and long-term public funding, saying she wants to partner with the board and community to protect students and maintain programs even if federal funding is reduced. Nathan Roberto emphasized the vulnerability of some families and recommended more community support and bilingual programming. Don Smart of the Haywood County Farm Bureau urged the board to accelerate plans for high-school agricultural sites and a new ag teacher; he said a barn and on-site farm experiences would benefit students and the countyagricultural workforce.
Sarah Workman asked what contingency plans the district has should federal funding be cut, specifically referencing programs that serve disadvantaged and exceptional-children populations.
Board response and policy action
Board members thanked speakers for their comments and noted the district will accept public input on pending policy changes. In work session the board discussed policy 36-20-R (application for immediate athletic eligibility) and other policy changes. A motion to suspend the rules and approve action on 36-20-R immediately failed for lack of a second; the board then voted to table most policy revisions for 30 days to allow public comment.
Speakers
- Sydney Piper, parent and community member - Erin Araghi, community member - Nathan Roberto, community member/contractor - Don Smart, Haywood County Farm Bureau representative - Sarah Workman, community member
Authorities
- Policy 36-20-R, application for immediate athletic eligibility (discussed; board tabled action to allow public input)
Provenance
Public comments on Early College extracurricular access began at the board's public-comment period and were followed by the policy discussion and the failed motion to suspend rules to consider 36-20-R immediately.
