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Board weighs gymnastics co-op with neighboring districts, defers vote to July
Summary
Trustees discussed a proposed gymnastics co-op with Deubrook and Hamlin, focusing on enrollment-classification thresholds, cost-sharing options and limits on out-of-district athletes. Superintendent will gather pricing and enrollment scenarios for a July decision.
The Deuel School District 19-4 board spent the largest portion of its June meeting debating whether to enter a gymnastics cooperative with nearby Deubrook and Hamlin districts.
Superintendent (speaker 2) told trustees he had solicited parent feedback and received mostly supportive responses with a few hesitations; he said he plans to "reach out to Deubrook tomorrow" and bring a vote next month. Board members pressed on two main concerns: how combined enrollment would affect athletic classification and how the district would allocate program costs for students who live outside Deuel.
The superintendent explained classification is based on combined 9–11 average daily membership (ADM) for cooperating schools and noted gymnastics has only two class tiers (Class A and Class AA). He said current combined ADM with Deubrook would keep Deuel well below the Class A cutoff, but adding Hamlin could move the total closer to the threshold in future years because Hamlin's enrollment is growing. The superintendent told the board the co-op can be dissolved later if necessary.
Board members discussed cost models used elsewhere — from flat fees (trustees referenced $500 for a wrestling co-op) to shared-percent contributions — and raised program-specific costs such as specialized equipment and facility heating/maintenance that make gymnastics more expensive than some other sports. Several trustees urged the superintendent to gather comparable agreements from other districts and to propose contractual limits (for example, capping how many out-of-district athletes may join) before the board votes.
No motion was made Tuesday. The superintendent said he will prepare paperwork and financial scenarios, and bring proposed contract language and enrollment projections to the July meeting so trustees can decide whether to approve the co-op then.
