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Parents urge board to restore Manti cheer sideline role after drill-team collaboration
Summary
Manti parents and coaches told the South Sanpete School District board that a trial collaboration putting the drill team alongside cheerleaders on the sideline has created safety risks, diluted program identity and left parents feeling excluded; they asked the district to revert to limited pregame/halftime collaborations or return to the original 0.25-break-dance plan.
Parents and coaches from Manti High School urged the South Sanpete School District board on Oct. 8 to preserve the safety and identity of the school's cheer program after a new collaboration with the drill team expanded beyond its original scope.
"The issue is about maintaining integrity, safety, and identity of the cheer program, which we feel has been compromised this year," parent Emily Mangum told the board, describing safety concerns when cheerleaders had to "squeeze into fewer lines on the mats" and sometimes did not have full use of their equipment. She said the arrangement started as limited 0.25 break dances and then grew into drill performing alongside cheer for much of games.
Assistant coach Britney Hansen, speaking for coaches, said the situation produced "a lot of drama" and that past collaborations had worked when they were limited to specific pregame or halftime performances. "We've done it in the past," Hansen said. "If we're to say if we're gonna do this again next year, I would say absolutely not" unless space, safety standards and coach input are respected.
Board members and administrators asked clarifying questions about how the plan began, whether coaches were consulted and how the district would address safety certification differences between cheer and drill activities. The superintendent's team described the arrangement as a trial and said they would regroup after the season to find a "win-win" solution that includes coaches and parents. Chair said the board would discuss the matter with administration and that administrators would reach back out to both sides.
The public-comment period ended with the board indicating it would continue the matter administratively and follow up after hearing from both coaching staffs and district athletic leadership.
