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Survey shows strong student interest in volleyball, football and local demand for swim options
Summary
A district survey of 178 students found high participation in clubs and clear interest in volleyball and football; trustees discussed co‑op arrangements for swimming and the option of starting club (USA) teams to build local participation before forming school teams.
Mister Robertson presented a student activities survey to the board, saying 178 students responded and listing the most popular fall, winter and spring sports by gender.
He said nearly 68% of surveyed girls expressed interest in volleyball and 55% of boys listed football as the top fall sport; winter interest leaned toward basketball and wrestling for boys and basketball for girls. Robertson noted a consistent pattern of high extracurricular participation in the district (roughly 75–80% across recent years). He also highlighted non‑sport clubs — FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, National Honor Society, music and drama — as important engagement opportunities.
Several trustees raised swimming as an example of a sport that students in rural schools could access by co‑op with larger schools. Trustees and administrators discussed that students from small schools can compete under another school’s banner (for example, Thunder Basin), that the district can provide limited transportation (district transports students to Gillette activities but parents typically pick them up) and that coach/volunteer availability is often the limiting factor. Trustees encouraged students and families to explore starting a community USA‑sanctioned swim club to build interest and then evaluate whether a school team is feasible.
The board did not take formal action on adding sports. Trustees asked staff to advertise available co‑op opportunities and to help clarify transportation procedures for families. Several trustees emphasized the value of shared athletes across seasons in small schools and the district’s willingness to consider additions when community interest and sustainable coaching exist.
