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Students say girls basketball lacked administrative support and social-media recognition
Summary
Two Woodhaven High School seniors told the board that the girls basketball team received far less administrative presence and social-media recognition than the boys team during postseason play and asked the board to improve the culture and visibility for female athletes.
Two Woodhaven High School seniors told the board March 10 they feel the district has not given the girls basketball program the same visibility and staff support afforded to boys teams.
"There were zero Woodhaven High School administrators, including our athletic director, at our district finals game," senior Harper Barnhart told the Board of Education, saying the school's Instagram account — managed by the principal, she said — posted markedly fewer items about the girls' postseason than about the boys. "Equal representation at our school has been a foreign concept," Barnhart said, and she urged the board to meet with female athletes and consider cultural changes.
Senior teammate Spencer Davidson reiterated the concerns, saying the girls had won league championships back-to-back and were the first team in school history to go 16–0 in league play, yet received only a single post and limited in-person recognition. "We do feel as though our accomplishments and our hard work is being disregarded or at least not being recognized by the district and the administrators," Davidson said.
Board member Greathead thanked both students, said the board takes their concerns seriously and committed to working with Woodhaven High School administration "to get you a response, but a plan." Athletic director Chris Nagle later highlighted the girls' season accomplishments to the board, noting team GPA and postseason progress.
Provenance: topic introduced SEG 064; last related segment SEG 176.
