District 12-4A committee approves Kennedale student's varsity eligibility pending residency waiver

The District 12-4A Executive Committee of the University Interscholastic League voted to find Kennedale student Kenyon Childress eligible for varsity competition, pending a parent residency waiver and a planned home-visit verification.

At a hearing Jan. 22 in Alvarado, Mr. Curtis Childress testified that he and his wife are separated and that he and his son moved in with an aunt in Kennedale while the divorce is pending. He presented a utility bill and an updated driver's license showing the Kennedale address as evidence of the change in residence. Coach Richard Barrett of Kennedale said he will conduct a home visit on Jan. 23 to verify residency.

Coach Michael Boone of Everman High School said he had met several times with Mr. Childress about concerns over playing time and that, after an escalating exchange at the team's last game, Mr. Childress had been "belligerent." Boone said Mr. Childress contacted him on Dec. 18 and said his son would no longer play for Everman and that they would be moving; Boone testified Mr. Childress did not tell him the move was intended to facilitate participation in athletics at a different school.

Coach Scott Thrush of Waxahachie Life Schools asked why the school's participation affidavit (PAPF) indicated both parents lived at the Kennedale address if the parents were separated. The question prompted discussion about the PAPF marking (item #6) and the process that triggers a hearing under Section 443 of the UIL rules.

Committee members from Venus, Ferris, Waxahachie Life and Godley voted in favor of approving the PAPF and declaring Kenyon Childress eligible for varsity pending a parent residency waiver at Kennedale ISD; Alvarado abstained. The motion was recorded as 4–0 with one abstention. The committee adjourned at 1:37 P.M.