Coach urges Sahuarita board to revisit policy barring ESA students from district athletics

Ward Law, a longtime coach associated with the high school tennis program, used the public-comment period to press the Sahuarita Unified District governing board to reconsider a policy he described as barring ESA students from participating in Arizona Interscholastic Association athletics for the district.

"The district can and must make a well-thought-out policy in the best interest of the entire community," Ward Law said, telling members he had learned the board had made a unanimous decision not to allow ESA students to participate on district AIA teams. He argued the restriction could immediately harm team competitiveness — including the tennis team — and suggested the board could charge a higher fee for ESA participants to cover coach stipends instead of barring participation.

Ward Law said he has coached the Sahuarita tennis program for about 25 years and that the number one incoming player next year is an ESA student, whom he named. He recommended the district find options that do not exclude students and said he would continue to press the issue with district staff.

Board members thanked Ward Law for his comments and invited further discussion outside the meeting; the transcript records no formal motion, board response, or vote on the policy during the session. Assistant Superintendent Scott Downs and others offered to communicate with him directly after the meeting.

The claim that the board had taken a unanimous policy vote was made by the public commenter during his remarks; the meeting transcript does not show the board confirming that vote during this session. The district did not present new policy text or a staff recommendation about ESA athletics during the meeting.