Board denies request from off-campus student-athlete
The Western News
The Troy School Board at its meeting last week denied home- and Christian-schooled students the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities.
Brady Selle, school superintendent, said the issue materialized when a Christian school student wanted to play on the Troy Junior High football team.
“They had a good discussion about the pros and cons,” Selle said. “Ultimately, the board decided to not allow that to occur.”
The basis for not allowing students outside the public school system to participate revolved around accountability. Selle said student-athletes are required to meet minimum academic standards to play on sports teams.
“Legal counsel indicated to us that if we allow one student participate in one activity, then we would have to allow all students in all activities,” Selle said. “When talking about eligibility, our students have pretty stringent eligibility requirements. Š How would we be accountable to those students who don’t attend our school to that same thing?”
The board approved the decision on a 5-1 vote.
“We would really like to accommodate all kids that live within our school district so it’s one of those things where you’re torn with that decision because you want to work with those families,” Selle said. “And we respect their decision to send them to a Christian school. But there are concerns with the ramifications.”
In other matters that went before the board, Selle said enrollment numbers at Troy schools overall are up.
“Elementary numbers have been coming up a little bit the last several years,” Selle said. “We’re closing in on 230 kids in the elementary school. That’s the highest it’s been for about six or seven years.”
Through the entire district, the increase is five students, he added. The junior high and high school numbers dropped 10 with the elementary up 15.
Troy’s positive news from enrollment appears to buck the trend. Selle said that at a superintendent’s meeting he attended on Wednesday, the high majority of districts reported a decline in numbers, including Libby, Thompson Falls and Plains. Besides Troy, Kalispell was among the others that showed an increase.
In other action from the Sept. 8 meeting, the board:
• Approved Tammy Bragg (full time) and Danita Jordan (part time) to fill two Special Education aide positions.
• Approved Shawna Kelsey as project coordinator of the 21st Century Grant’s part-time position.
• Approved Shawn Cummings to fill a part-time bus driving position.
• Approved Danny Miller and Kathy Pillans to fill part-time custodial positions.
• Approved five extracurricular contracts, including Brenda Goe and Hana Coy (Pep Club advisers), Rich Ramondelli (junior high and elementary volleyball) and Brendan Miller (junior high volleyball).