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Students tell Battle Ground board levy failure cost middle school sports, mental-health supports
Summary
Students and student representatives told the Battle Ground School Board that the district's failed levy has cut middle school sports and other supports, hurting student mental health and extracurricular access. The board heard a report of a districtwide thought-exchange survey that gathered student input at middle schools.
Dozens of middle school students told the Battle Ground School Board on Oct. 27 that the district's failed levy has reduced access to middle school sports and other supports that students said help their mental health.
Student speakers, and the district's student representatives, presented results from a thought-exchange survey the reps took at Tukes/Tookes/Tux Valley Middle School and summarized themes districtwide. "Since the levy failure, the loss of school sports has so far had a huge impact on students' mental health," said Sarah, an eighth-grader who identified herself as speaking about school sports.
The nut graf: Student leaders said the survey showed sports, phone restrictions, food quality, homework, school atmosphere and bullying as top concerns linked by students to the levy outcome. Student representative Toby Wynne said the board and student reps plan to visit all middle schools to gather more input and present the findings to district leaders.
Board members and student reps described the thought-exchange process: the student reps said they visited Tukes Valley during lunch without prior notice to students and collected 94 completed responses at that school alone, and that the rep-driven form let students "star" or prioritize responses. Student rep Itzel Contreras Montiel and Wynne said the survey sought input across a range of students, not just athletes or high achievers, and captured both positive notes and concerns.
Students and reps said the loss of middle school sports has tangible consequences for families who cannot afford club costs. "For many of us, school sports were an important way to stay active and healthy, both mentally and physically," Sarah said. Several speakers also said students noticed fewer librarians, larger class sizes, less teacher help and reduced playground equipment after the levy failed.
Board members praised the student-led outreach and said they would continue to engage with the rep team as the district plans tours at other schools. Superintendent remarks during the meeting noted volunteer programs such as Read Northwest and other community supports are expanding, but no formal board action on reinstating sports was proposed at the meeting.
Ending: The board meeting record shows the student rep project is ongoing; student leaders said they will take the thought-exchange to other middle and high schools and return results to the board for further discussion.
