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Special Olympics urges Stanley County schools to join Unified Champion Schools program
Summary
Julie Briggs, vice president of Special Olympics South Dakota, told the board the Unified Champion Schools program connects students with and without intellectual disabilities through sports, leadership and whole-school engagement; she said 92 South Dakota schools participate and offered grant support and implementation help.
Julie Briggs, vice president of Special Olympics South Dakota, urged the Stanley County School Board to consider the district for the Unified Champion Schools program, describing it as a three-part initiative — unified sports and fitness, youth leadership and whole-school engagement — that pairs students with and without intellectual disabilities.
"Special Olympics has a partnership with the Federal Department of Education called the Unified Champion School program," Briggs said, and she said the program supports schools with grant dollars and technical assistance. Briggs told the board South Dakota has 92 participating schools and that the state program can help small districts organize community-based teams so students can compete even when a single school lacks enough athletes to field a team.
Board members asked practical questions about inter-school competition, coach identification, and whether unified teams would represent the school or a community program. Briggs said smaller districts typically combine students into a community roster and that the program can begin with two of the three program pillars rather than all three at once.
Briggs left informational packets with board members and offered to return with more detailed implementation guidance. The board did not take formal action at the meeting but asked staff to follow up about next steps.
