A Rough Start with a Positive Outcome
The meeting began with some controversy even before it was officially called to order. Board President Dr. Melinda Anderson announced that speeches related to the field hockey issue would be limited to one student representative from each school, with each speaker given three minutes. A motion was subsequently made and approved to also allow one parent representative from each school to speak.
This decision, initially made in the board’s closed session and later affirmed in open session, was not without opposition. Board members Dr. Joseph Komrosky and Jennifer Wiersma advocated for allowing all students and parents who wished to speak the opportunity to do so. However, they were outnumbered 3-2.
Dr. Anderson explained her reasoning passionately, emphasizing that a special meeting dedicated solely to the issue of phasing out the girls’ field hockey program had already been scheduled for March 10th. To maintain the efficiency of the current board meeting, she believed it was appropriate to limit speeches, ensuring a more focused and comprehensive discussion at the upcoming special meeting.
Ultimately, the board approved a motion to officially designate this special meeting as a board meeting. An official announcement is expected soon, but the meeting is currently scheduled for March 10th at 6:00 PM in the Performing Arts Center at Great Oak High School.
Key Takeaways from the Speeches
The speeches in defense of the field hockey program were passionate and compelling, with student-athlete testimonies standing out as particularly moving. A few common themes emerged:
- Exemplary Student-Athletes: These young women are more than just athletes; they are high-achievers academically, with team-wide GPAs averaging close to 4.0. Many are multi-sport athletes, active in clubs, and involved in student government. These future leaders are exactly the type of students the district should be supporting.
- Strong Team Bonds: Many speakers highlighted the sense of community and camaraderie fostered by these teams, emphasizing the deep personal impact of eliminating the program.
- Lost Opportunities: Athletes shared heartbreaking stories about lost opportunities, particularly for those who had been working toward college scholarships. The field hockey program has a history of producing collegiate athletes, and its removal disrupts future opportunities.
- Senior Season Cut Short: Even seniors who won’t personally be affected spoke in support, knowing the devastating impact this decision will have on younger teammates who were looking forward to their final seasons.
This meeting only scratched the surface of the conversation. The March 10th board meeting is expected to bring an even stronger and more detailed discussion.
Additional Takeaways
- Potential Title IX Concerns?: While we’ll leave it to the legal teams to decide whether this decision constitutes a Title IX violation, some people raised concerns about gender discrimination and inequitable treatment.
- Girls’ Flag Football and Misplaced Comparisons: The subject of the newly added girls’ flag football team (and seriously…they still refer to it as “powder puff” football?) has been mistakenly made part of this conversation. New opportunities for girls’ athletics should be welcomed and celebrated. Those who compare the two sports unfairly misunderstand that enthusiasm for a new sport doesn’t justify eliminating an existing one.
Who’s in Charge?
We’ve learned that the decision to eliminate the girls’ field hockey program was made by key TVUSD school administrators without explicit board approval. This has caused significant frustration within the community, especially given the administration’s attempt to announce the decision behind closed doors to players and coaches—without any prior discussion or input from the broader community.
If the administration believed this decision would go unnoticed, they were mistaken. The backlash has been strong and vocal, with many seeing the initial speech limitations at the board meeting as yet another attempt to silence opposition. However, by the end of the meeting, there was widespread appreciation for the decision to hold a dedicated board meeting, allowing all voices to be heard.
Looking Ahead
The community’s strong response has brought this issue to the forefront. The upcoming March 10th board meeting is a pivotal moment for all voices to be heard, providing the board an opportunity to exercise its authority to reconsider the district’s decision, especially given the overwhelming support for girls’ field hockey.
Stay engaged, stay vocal, and show up on March 10th!