SF Board not fans of cheer try outs
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KINCAID — The South Fork Board of Education held a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the district Media Center.
The junior high and high school cheer coaches were present at the meeting to ask the Board to consider reinstating cheerleading try outs. Currently, the cheer teams accept anyone who try out, which the coaches said could lead to problems.
The IHSA only allows 12 cheerleaders to be on the court during basketball games, which means that the coaches would have to choose who sat out and who cheered if they had more than 12 girls. They did not want to sideline girls from cheering. The coaches also said they were only allowed 12 girls for competitive cheering competitions, as well. There are no limits on how many can cheer at football games. The cheerleading team was currently right around 12 girls with a few alternates, though there had been rumors of many students getting interested in trying cheer for the first time.
The coaches claimed they wanted to keep building a good competitive team with dedicated cheerleaders, not girls who just walked into try it out for a year without any prior experience. They cited safety as a concern as well, fearing having girls without the years of training involved in lifts and catching fliers.
The Board, however, was not on the same page as the coaches. “It’s still your job as a coach to teach, regardless of the kid’s skill level,” Board President Kelly Dulakis said during discussion after the coaches had left the meeting.
“You find a way. That’s how it’s always been,” Agreed Board Trustee Mike Harris.
The Board then said they would keep with the current system. Anyone who wanted to could cheer. There were no limits on the number of cheerleaders for football. If the twelve-only rule for basketball became an issue, the Superintendent Chris Clark proposed a solution.
“Why not have some of the girls cheer for JV basketball games? Then you can keep your twelve for the varsity games.” Clark stated.
Clark also said he wasn’t opposed to having the cheerleaders try out for the competitive team. But if that was the route the coaches wished to go, then they would have to stick to twelve. There would be no increasing the number based on the kids year from year. It would be strictly enforced.
Elementary principal Michelle Rogers brought up a unique situation she needed help with: there had been an application for early enrollment into Kindergarten. She said that the District was required to have a policy in place for assessing and allowing early enrollment, and the current policy was not adequate. Rogers asked for the Policy Committee to meet with her to help come up with an up to date plan on early enrollment, so she would be able to move forward with the request.
The Board also approved:
– Treasurer’s report
– Bills
– Minutes
– Destruction of Executive Session audio recordings
– IESA and IHSA renewals
The next regular meeting of the South Fork Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the district Media Center.
