MONROE - An upcoming out-of-state track and field meet request was riddled with issues for school board treasurer Brian Keith at a meeting Monday.
The rest of the school board approved the request for Monroe High School athlete Jordan Hirsbrunner to participate in the Kansas Relays on April 21 in Lawrence, Kansas, with her mother, District Administrator Cory Hirsbrunner, as the only district employee accompanying her.
Keith objected to the fact that a coach would not be attending the meet, saying the district would do so for every other sport and that a coach should be there to help a competing athlete. WIAA regulations require a paid district employee - but not specifically a coach - to accompany athletes.
He also addressed disappointment in the way Matt Davis, head coach for the MHS girls track team, informed the team about the meet.
The Kansas Relays is a three-day track meet that draws some of the nation's top high school and collegiate athletes. They have to apply to participate, and acceptance standards are high, Davis said.
Davis said he had "a very honest discussion" with his team where he explained the meet would be more competitive than they're used to and they might not be accepted. The team is also scheduled to participate in a meet in Sauk Prairie the same day.
Other than Hirsbrunner, no other girls were interested in trying to qualify, he said.
"I'm disappointed," Keith said. "I did talk to a couple parents and basically, as you said, Matt, it was conveyed to the kids that we would not be competitive down there. And that's not what we're trying to do as a district. We're trying to give kids opportunities to participate."
Davis said he didn't want the students to be disappointed but admitted "I may have dropped the ball."
There's still time for other students to apply for the Kansas Relays and attend with Hirsbrunner. Amy Bazley, the board's deputy clerk, said she thinks parents should be brought into the decision, rather than leaving it between the coach and athletes. A letter will be sent to the parents informing them of the option.
If more athletes qualify for the meet, Bazley and other school board members said a coach should attend too.
But Keith still insisted a coach should attend even if it's just for one athlete. Cory Hirsbrunner said the district has sent non-coaches for other events, adding that students don't have much contact with their chaperone at events like the Kansas Relays.
Asked if athletes are disadvantaged if they compete without a coach present, both Davis and MHS Activities Director Jeff Newcomer said no.
The rest of the school board approved the request for Monroe High School athlete Jordan Hirsbrunner to participate in the Kansas Relays on April 21 in Lawrence, Kansas, with her mother, District Administrator Cory Hirsbrunner, as the only district employee accompanying her.
Keith objected to the fact that a coach would not be attending the meet, saying the district would do so for every other sport and that a coach should be there to help a competing athlete. WIAA regulations require a paid district employee - but not specifically a coach - to accompany athletes.
He also addressed disappointment in the way Matt Davis, head coach for the MHS girls track team, informed the team about the meet.
The Kansas Relays is a three-day track meet that draws some of the nation's top high school and collegiate athletes. They have to apply to participate, and acceptance standards are high, Davis said.
Davis said he had "a very honest discussion" with his team where he explained the meet would be more competitive than they're used to and they might not be accepted. The team is also scheduled to participate in a meet in Sauk Prairie the same day.
Other than Hirsbrunner, no other girls were interested in trying to qualify, he said.
"I'm disappointed," Keith said. "I did talk to a couple parents and basically, as you said, Matt, it was conveyed to the kids that we would not be competitive down there. And that's not what we're trying to do as a district. We're trying to give kids opportunities to participate."
Davis said he didn't want the students to be disappointed but admitted "I may have dropped the ball."
There's still time for other students to apply for the Kansas Relays and attend with Hirsbrunner. Amy Bazley, the board's deputy clerk, said she thinks parents should be brought into the decision, rather than leaving it between the coach and athletes. A letter will be sent to the parents informing them of the option.
If more athletes qualify for the meet, Bazley and other school board members said a coach should attend too.
But Keith still insisted a coach should attend even if it's just for one athlete. Cory Hirsbrunner said the district has sent non-coaches for other events, adding that students don't have much contact with their chaperone at events like the Kansas Relays.
Asked if athletes are disadvantaged if they compete without a coach present, both Davis and MHS Activities Director Jeff Newcomer said no.