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Parent urges review after Lockwood uses MHSA rule to roster eighth-graders on high-school teams
Summary
Parent Courtney Hubbs told the Lockwood School Board it appears the district misapplied an MHSA rule that allows eighth-graders to play high-school sports, alleging younger players were prioritized over older teammates; district officials said they are awaiting an MHSA investigation and may review local policy.
Courtney Hubbs, a parent, asked the Lockwood School Board to investigate and revise district policy after she said Lockwood allowed eighth-grade students to take roster spots on high-school basketball teams. Hubbs said she filed a formal complaint with the Montana High School Association (MHSA) and asked the board to review how the district interprets the MHSA rule.
Hubbs read a prepared letter to the board, saying the MHSA rule was meant “to benefit rural communities” where teams struggle to field rosters, but that Lockwood had ‘‘expanded its interpretation’’ in a way that opened rosters to a large pool of players and, in her view, advantaged younger students over high-school athletes. ‘‘This is a clear in inequity and opportunity that undermines the spirit of the rule itself,’’ Hubbs said.
Superintendent staff told the board they have not yet received a result from MHSA and that the district must await that body’s investigation before taking formal action. Board members said the district can still review its own policies once the MHSA inquiry is complete and agreed to add a policy-review item to a future meeting agenda.
The complaint centers on whether the district used the MHSA eighth-grade participation rule in situations where there were sufficient high-school students to form teams. Hubbs asked the board to adopt clear guidelines limiting eighth-grade participation where high-school roster numbers allow. The board did not take a vote on policy changes during the meeting; officials said they will report back after the MHSA investigation and when the board considers any local policy changes.
Next steps: the board noted it will wait for MHSA’s investigatory outcome and, at the board’s discretion, review or propose changes to district athletic policy at a future meeting.
