Prosser board approves Hawaii trip for high-school basketball teams amid fundraising assurances

The Prosser School District board voted to approve an out-of-state travel request for the district’s boys’ and girls’ basketball programs to attend a December tournament in Hawaii.

Coaches and staff described the visit as an educational and cultural opportunity that complements coursework about World War II and Pearl Harbor. Two date windows were discussed: Dec. 9–13 (would require missing some school days) and Dec. 16–20 (scheduled to overlap with winter break and avoid missed classes). Coaches said the teams estimate fundraising needs in the range commonly associated with similar trips (coaches referenced an approximate team fundraising goal of about $25,000–$28,000 per team) and that day-to-day substitute costs would be billed to ASB accounts so the district’s general fund is not expected to pay for subs.

Coaches emphasized that eligibility rules apply: students who are academically ineligible will not travel. Board members asked how the trip will be communicated to the community given recent staffing reductions and levy talks; coaches and trustees said the teams use sponsorship and ticketed events and plan to make fundraising and sponsorship arrangements transparent.

A motion to approve the out-of-state travel request for Proser High School boys’ and girls’ basketball was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote.

What’s next: the coaches and school administrators said they will continue fundraising and will provide dates and logistics to families; the board approved the travel request and did not withhold approval pending additional budget action.