Stanton County USD 452 board tables dual-sports policy; staff to draft proposal for March meeting

The Stanton County Unified School District 452 Board of Education discussed proposed revisions to its dual-sports participation policy at a special meeting on Feb. 27 and voted unanimously to table the item to the district’s March regular meeting so staff can prepare draft language.

Administrator Dave Novack told the board the district needs clear requirements for students who want to participate in more than one sport in a season and recommended stronger academic eligibility standards as part of any revision. Principal Leah Crane presented a review of neighboring league schools’ policies, saying the board’s peers had varying approaches and that Lakin’s policy contained the most detailed language the board members favored.

Board members discussed several options. One proposal would allow a student’s primary sport to remain unchanged while permitting the student to continue practicing in a second or third sport but not compete; an alternative option would remove secondary participation entirely. The minutes record that Leah Crane said she will prepare written draft language based on those discussions for the board to review at its March meeting.

Board member Bobbie Ehrlich moved to table the dual-sports policy to the March regular meeting; Paige German seconded. The motion carried 7-0. Earlier in the meeting the board approved the special meeting agenda by a 7-0 vote, and the board adjourned at 12:37 p.m. after a unanimous motion to adjourn.

Votes at a glance • Approval of agenda: motion by Bobbie Ehrlich, second by Chantry Scott — approved 7-0. • Table dual-sports policy to March regular meeting: motion by Bobbie Ehrlich, second by Paige German — approved 7-0. • Adjournment: motion by Bret Kendrick, second by Paige German — approved 7-0.

The board did not adopt any policy text at the special meeting; staff will return proposed language for a future decision.