Junior Red Hawks ask board to review gym-space allocation for fairness and safety

Natalie, speaking on behalf of the Junior Red Hawks basketball program, told the board the volunteer-run group faces persistent difficulty securing adequate gym space for games and asked the district to review whether access is being distributed fairly among school and community programs. "Every year, I encounter issues with securing gym space for various groups," she said, and she told the board the program now serves 342 players across grades 1—8 with 28 teams.

Natalie described how the program's younger divisions typically use small elementary gyms but that 7th and 8th graders need larger facilities to play a regulation game and to avoid safety hazards such as players running into walls. She asked the board for immediate accommodations for two weeks in December through January to give 7th—8 teams access to larger gyms and requested a longer-term review of which programs are scheduled where and whether funding supports youth community programs. "We would just like to see that it is fair and equitable across all aspects," she said.

Board members and district staff acknowledged the concerns and said they would check space availability and equity considerations. The superintendent's office noted legal limits on using public funds for outside youth programs but said the district would review space assignments to reduce crowding and safety risks. The board did not take a formal vote on the request; members said staff would follow up and consider the issue further under facilities and scheduling reviews.