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Athletic director says TK–8 reconfiguration reduced participation and raised costs for district sports
Summary
An athletic director told the board that the TK–8 change led to fewer athletes, higher officiating and equipment costs, and scheduling problems that left some teams without access to home gyms.
Mike Woodley, athletic director and bilingual teacher at Auburn Elementary, described the unintended consequences of moving to a TK–8 model: lower participation, inability to field teams at some grade levels, tripled costs for officiating, coaches and equipment, and conflicts that have displaced EV Kane teams from their home gym.
Woodley said expectations that the league move would increase opportunities are not matching reality — he reported fewer students participating and difficulties filling teams. He also described transportation and facility access problems that hinder after‑school practices and games; trustees acknowledged the issue and asked for more details on how athletics and scheduling will be supported going forward.
Why it matters: Athletics provide extracurricular engagement for students; reduced participation and increased costs affect program viability and may require budget or scheduling adjustments. The superintendent and trustees signaled interest in exploring solutions, including potential scheduling or transportation supports.
