Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Recognition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents and coach ask Caledonia Board to allow varsity letters for equestrian riders
Summary
Parents and the high school equestrian coach asked the Caledonia Community Schools board to permit varsity letters for equestrian team members without changing the team's club status, noting multiple state championships and offering to cover the cost of letters.
At the May 18 Caledonia Community Schools board meeting, parents and the high school equestrian coach urged the board to let riders receive varsity letters while keeping the team's current club status.
"We are a club sport. We don't want our status to change," parent Renee Tapolski said, adding that the team has been state champion or reserve every year since 2020 and that parents would pay for letters if the district would authorize them. Coach Kim Frederick introduced the request on the team's behalf and described the students's long-term commitment.
Parent Liz Bernest told the board the program has been part of the district for more than 20 years and competes under the Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association (MIHA). "Our team has followed established bylaws, coaching standards, and participation requirements to compete at district, regional, and state levels," Bernest said, and noted trophies, social media recognition and a championship flag already displayed at the high school.
Speakers asked the board to allow a varsity letter program to be implemented and administered by coaches and the parent board so riders could list the recognition on college applications. Tapolski said that college admissions and scholarship prospects for some students could be affected by whether they can show a varsity letter.
Board practice was not to engage in back-and-forth during public comment; trustees said they had heard the request and would provide a response after staff review. The board did not take an immediate vote on the request at the meeting.
The next step described by speakers would be for district staff to review whether a varsity letter policy could be created that honors the team's club status and to return to the board with a recommendation.
