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Granite City High School board approves esports club, citing STEM and student engagement benefits
Summary
The Granite City CUSD 9 board voted to create an esports club at Granite City High School after administrators and teachers described student interest, low initial cost for Rocket League play, and links to STEM and vocational opportunities.
The Granite City CUSD 9 Board of Education voted to approve a new esports club for Granite City High School, saying the program could engage students who are not involved in other extracurriculars and connect to STEM and vocational pathways.
Administrators and teachers presented the proposal during the board's Feb. 16 meeting. Director of Information Systems Brad Fred Urbay told the board the district had investigated peer programs and found growing participation and college recruiting opportunities. "We started talking to a couple of our school districts," Urbay said, arguing esports can bring students "who we've been missing out on" into school-sponsored activities.
Art teacher David McClauslin, who will help lead the program, described student demand for Rocket League, a free, cross-platform game, and outlined how participation could support teamwork and critical thinking. "This is allowing social interaction that students have definitely been missing while we've been distancing," McClauslin said.
Presenters showed a short video example of a neighboring district's program and noted that some colleges now offer esports scholarships. They recommended beginning with Rocket League through the PlayVersus platform because Rocket League requires no upfront district cost and supports crossplay across devices. McClauslin said PlayVersus enforces a code of conduct and verifies school staff who register teams.
During questions, board members and a parent raised concerns about costs for other games, device needs and student safety online. Urbay said PlayVersus requires employment verification for coaches and provides administrative controls; he added that the initial Rocket League season would impose "no cost to the district not at this time." Board members also discussed longer-term needs, including a dedicated hub space, machines and staffing if the program expands.
A motion to approve formation of the club was made and seconded; the board approved the motion by roll call. The presenters said they would provide updates to the board on early matches, student participation and any equipment or staffing needs that emerge.
The board vote follows a wider push among area districts to formalize esports as an extracurricular activity tied to STEM coursework and career pathways. Program supporters said starting small with Rocket League will allow the district to test interest while exploring connections to vocational and media-production programs.
