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Pullman schools present athletic-interest survey; board hears equity and access concerns
Summary
District athletics staff presented an OSPI-required athletic interest survey showing steady participation and some gender differences in activity counts; the presentation highlighted barriers such as equipment cost and transportation and proposed outreach, fee-waiver awareness and targeted fundraising to expand access.
Evan Hecker, presenting on Lincoln Middle School and Pullman High School athletics and activities, told the board the district administered an OSPI-required athletic interest survey and used the results to examine participation and access across a three-year window.
"It gives us an opportunity to have a chance to listen," Hecker said, adding that "behind every chart is a student." He cited participation totals in one three-year snapshot (boys 389; girls 315; total 704) and said some sports show growth (wrestling) while others face limits because of league availability or geography (bowling opponents are scarce; diving is costly without a facility). Hecker said the survey is intended to help the district assess whether opportunities align with student interest and Title IX considerations.
Board members and staff discussed specific barriers students face: equipment and uniform costs, transportation, schedule conflicts and limited local opponents for some sports. Hecker said the district will increase outreach about fee waivers and work with booster clubs and community partners to reduce financial barriers. He offered several practical ideas discussed with the board, including piloting limited external partnerships (for example, fundraising to use the University of Idaho diving facility once weekly) and exploring virtual matches for sports that can support remote competition.
Hecker also proposed collecting participation data more frequently than the current three-year OSPI cycle — recommending annual or more frequent surveys — to identify trends and inform staffing and facility choices. He emphasized that not all requested activities are feasible but that the district plans to prioritize equitable access and to bring detailed cost and budget implications back to the board.
The board did not vote on program changes during this meeting; Hecker said staff will follow up with coaches and return with any proposals that require action.
What to watch: follow-up in the fall on any proposed budget requests or pilot programs to expand access and on staff efforts to publicize fee-waiver options.
