Mendota Unified board approves overnight travel for wrestlers after fog grounds buses

The Mendota Unified School District Board of Trustees on Feb. 11 approved overnight travel for Mendota High School girls' and boys' wrestling teams to participate in CIF Divisionals Feb. 12–14 following a prior tournament cancellation caused by dense fog.

The girls' team was authorized to travel to Sierra Pacific High School and the boys' team to Reedley High School. The travel approvals were included on the consent calendar and passed by roll call vote, 6-0. Board members noted that actual overnight travel would be at the discretion of site administrators and transportation staff, but some trustees favored booking hotels as a precaution to avoid repeating last week's disruption.

Mendota High School principal Travis Kirby, speaking during public comment, expressed disappointment the teams could not attend the earlier tournament. Transportation director R. Carlos explained the district's safety rationale: 'it is illegal for busses to be on the road if visibility drops below 200 feet,' and that the visibility the day in question had been determined to be 'less than 50 feet.' Carlos said the district made the cancellation for student safety. Trustee Jose C. Zavala said the board would continue to discuss the policy because fog affects all winter sports.

The board did not amend the consent‑calendar approval; the motion to approve the consent items (including the two overnight wrestling trips) was made by Trustee Sergio Valdez, seconded by Trustee Salvador Ochoa, and carried 6-0. School administrators retain operational authority — including whether to send buses — and transportation staff must follow safety limits when visibility falls below legal thresholds.