Deuel school board approves gymnastics co‑op with Dubrook and Hamlin, sets $1,500 per participant

The Deuel School District 19‑4 board voted July 14 to join gymnastics cooperatives with Dubrook and Hamlin and to charge visiting students a flat $1,500 per participant for the two‑year pilot.

Board members spent extensive time weighing cost‑sharing options and logistics before the votes. Members noted the district’s gymnastics program has modest operating costs this year (the packet cites about $156,000 for the program in the 2024–25 year, excluding transportation and awards) and that some districts split end‑of‑year expenses or charge a flat per‑participant fee. The board discussed alternatives including per‑participant assessment and flat fees, limits on the number of visiting students and a two‑year trial to reassess viability and enrollment growth.

After the discussion the board took separate motions for each school. The motion to enter a co‑op with Dubrook at $1,500 per visiting student, with renewal to be considered after two years, passed on roll call: Tony — yes; Wade — no; Joel — yes; Leah — yes; D — yes (4–1). The board then considered Hamlin separately and approved that co‑op by the same margin.

Superintendent and athletic staff said the agreements would be finalized administratively and would require approval at the partner districts’ boards before they take effect. Board members flagged travel distance and open‑enrollment concerns — for example, the potential for additional districts to seek participation — and agreed the two‑year trial period would let the district evaluate participation and costs.

The board asked staff to prepare the cooperative application materials and the written agreement details (participant limits, transportation responsibilities and state application requirements) for final approval at a subsequent meeting.

The board moved on to routine business after approving the gymnastics cooperatives.