District reports record athlete participation; board affirms following WIAA rules as gender policies evolve

Athletic director Mr. Logistad presented the district’s interscholastic report and highlighted sustained, post‑pandemic participation. “Of our 406 total enrollment, South Whidbey High School had 416 students participating in 19 activities,” Logistad said, noting 53% of athletes play more than one sport and that participation among free‑and‑reduced‑lunch students rose from 23 to 58.

The report listed competitive accomplishments (32 athletes named first‑team all‑conference and multiple state qualifiers) and academic recognitions by the WIAA for team GPAs. Logistad said the district will follow WIAA governing rules and state law in eligibility matters.

Board members raised questions about how gender identity is recorded and whether nonbinary options appear on final registration forms. Dr. Moshe said Skyward can record a student’s identified gender and confirmed there is a nonbinary option. “You can select nonbinary,” one administrator said during the exchange.

Board discussion emphasized support for inclusive participation while acknowledging the statewide debate over competition policies. The superintendent summarized the board’s position: the district supports students’ right to compete in the gender with which they identify and will work to balance inclusion with safety concerns.

Why it matters: higher participation and increased access for lower‑income students point to broader engagement in extracurriculars; the gender‑policy discussion reflects active statewide conversations and may influence local program administration.

What’s next: administrators said they will continue monitoring WIAA guidance and report back if district forms or procedures need updating.

Sources: Presentation by Mr. Logistad and subsequent Q&A with the superintendent and board.