After more than a month of uncertainty regarding cheerleading tryouts, the International Falls School Board decided Monday to uphold the policies in a school handbook.
School board member Stuart Nordquist said, “The first rule of all rules is to know the rules.”
In saying that, he noted that someone on the administration “dropped the ball” when it came to stopping current sixth and seventh graders before tryouts held in March.
The board voted unanimously to maintain the current handbook until a summer review of that and other handbooks governing the school. At that time, the proper routine can be followed to review the rule.
Superintendent Jeff Peura explained that he would like an annual review of all handbooks for students, faculty and staff activities each June.
A several-years-old activities handbook is being cited as the current resource for rules regarding cheerleading and other activities. Cheerleading advisors Sherri Owen and Jessica Crosby said they had gained approval from Athletic Director Don Rolando to open cheerleading tryouts to the entire Falls High School population, grades seven through 12, due to declining numbers of students trying out for the squads in recent years.
It was not until after practices and tryouts that the women say concerns were raised at a school board meeting the following week. After speaking to school administrators following the school board meeting, the coaches said they were shown the rule in the handbook.
Owen and Crosby spoke to the board during the open forum period and reiterated their need for a swift decision on the matter. They noted that fundraising is to be started soon for next year, and summer camps will be approaching before the board would have a chance to review the documents this summer. The board added a consent agenda item related to maintaining the handbook on cheerleading at the start of the meeting.
“We know the concern has been raised that this is akin to closing the barn door after the horse has left the building. ...” Crosby said. “We don’t want the girls to be penalized because the adults didn’t follow the correct steps.”
Two students, Jaime Sjoblom and Lynda Cottrell, spoke during the open forum regarding their feelings about having seventh and eighth graders on the squad.
Sjoblom pointed to harassment and other stressful situations that can arise during cheerleading, which she said older students would be better equipped to handle.
Cottrell and Sjoblom both talked about what could result in a lack of bond between the older students and underclassmen. Cottrell said she has heard from upperclassmen who were scared to try for the squad for fear of being losing a spot to a younger student.
Vickie Bernard also spoke during the open forum and advocated for the 9-12 grade rule being maintained. Bernard said changing the rule in the middle of the year would be unfair without going through the proper channels. She also said the privilege of being on a squad should be kept for the “older girls,” and didn’t see how students who had been on a squad this year were not selected for next year’s team.
