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Parents protest cheer‑team roster changes; superintendent says policy was followed
Summary
Several parents told the board that seven students were added then removed from the varsity cheer roster after tryouts; parents say a previously distributed document limited squads to top‑20 scorers and asked the board to require accountability. The superintendent said the district followed the policy and has spoken to parents.
Multiple parents told the Taylor County School Board during public comment that roster changes to the high‑school cheer team harmed students and did not follow the standards parents received at the outset.
"My child received this email saying congratulations, and welcome to the team," Beau Freeman told the board, describing a later reversal that he said left seven girls 'kicked off the team.' He asked, "Who made the decision to take them off? Why were they kicked off? What policy or rule do you stand on for removing them?" Freeman also said the district is not signed up for competitive cheer with the Florida High School Athletic Association and that the program remains a club sport under FHSAA rules.
Crystal Miller and Ashley McCormick, parents of students who made the squad, told the board they were 'blindsided' by additions that, they said, violated a selection process distributed last year. Miller cited a briefing document she said required each squad to 'select top 20 scores on the judge's final score sheet' and that 'if numbers 20 and 21 have the exact same score, then the squad will have 21 cheerleaders only.' McCormick said families had spent time and money preparing for mandatory camps and that adding students midstream was unfair to those who followed the posted procedures.
Superintendent (S14) responded that he had spoken to the parents and that "The policy that was in place has been followed." Several board members cautioned that the dispute touches personnel issues and instructed that any investigation into employee conduct be handled privately; one board attorney advised that personnel matters must be investigated confidentially and are not appropriate for public deliberation.
The board did not take any formal action on the matter during the meeting. Parents asked the superintendent to investigate and for clearer communication about future tryout and roster policies.
