Chico Unified Board votes 4–1 to add CIF lacrosse beginning 2026–27

The Chico Unified School District Board of Education voted 4–1 on Oct. 1, 2025 to add California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) lacrosse at Chico High School and Pleasant Valley High School beginning in the 2026–27 school year.

Supporters, including students, parents and the nonprofit Friends of Chico Lacrosse, told the board during a public-comment portion of a workshop that CIF-sanctioned teams would expand opportunities for athletes, preserve a decades‑old local club pipeline and improve college exposure. Hogan Brown, director of Friends of Chico Lacrosse, summarized a submitted plan and budget, saying the organization would help fund start-up needs and proposed a three‑part fundraising model of individual donations, corporate gifts and grants. Brown told the board the group’s estimates are based on USA Lacrosse, the National Federation of High School Sports and CIF guidance.

Board context and why it mattered

Board members and district athletic staff weighed competing considerations: student interest and community fundraising capacity versus scheduling constraints, facility wear and staffing burdens for athletic directors and maintenance crews. District staff presented participation data and financial estimates, noting the district lists 2,176 athletes combined at Chico High and Pleasant Valley and that site athletic budgets average $35,000. Staff also cautioned about Title IX implications; Pedro (district staff) explained that schools must meet one of three tests under federal guidance to show athletic opportunities are equitably provided to male and female students.

What the board decided and the vote

After discussion about whether to start in 2025–26 or delay to 2026–27, the board adopted a substitute motion to begin lacrosse in the 2026–27 school year. The roll-call vote was: Olsen, aye; Konkin, aye; Landau, aye; Hayes, aye; Robinson, no. The chair said the board expects district administrators and the community group to coordinate implementation and return with follow-up items as needed.

Key details discussed

- Funding and donations: Hogan Brown said Friends of Chico Lacrosse submitted a budget, committed to donating 40 sets of gear per team and outlined ongoing fundraising and grant strategies. Brown’s materials (submitted Aug. 28, 2025) were referenced repeatedly by presenters and are part of the board packet. - Costs: Friends of Chico Lacrosse presented per‑team estimates; district staff presented higher-startup and maintenance estimates to account for worst‑case budgeting and potential offsets when donations are realized. - Scheduling and league play: District staff said CIF/section scheduling is complex; Pedro noted the Sac‑Joaquin section commissioner had previously indicated willingness to work with Chico Unified on placement, but staff warned that spring facility schedules are set in advance and adding a sport sooner could present logistical challenges. - Facilities and turf wear: Staff estimated turf fields last roughly 7–10 years and that increased use could accelerate replacement; PV’s turf was replaced two years ago, and Chico High’s turf is projected to need replacement in about two years. - Staffing and operations: Athletic directors raised concerns about administrative load—release time, stipends, custodial and maintenance needs, transportation and officials—and urged planning for ongoing operational support rather than relying solely on boosters.

Reactions and next steps

Community speakers, including student athletes and coaches, applauded the vote as a path to retain the local lacrosse pipeline and expand youth opportunities. School administrators and athletic directors asked the board to allow sufficient time to plan staffing, scheduling and budget details; several board members supported a 2026–27 start for that reason. The board asked staff and Friends of Chico Lacrosse to continue working together and to return with implementation steps, timelines and any resource requests before programs begin.

The vote and what it does not mean

The board’s action authorizes district staff to begin planning toward offering CIF lacrosse beginning 2026–27. It does not, by itself, appropriate specific district funds or change existing site budgets; district administrators said they will bring any requests for budget adjustments or staffing changes back to the board for formal action.

A closing note

The board adjourned the public portion after making the decision and directed staff to collaborate with community partners on logistics, Title IX compliance, scheduling, and support for boosters and athletic departments.