Senior cheerleader pleads with board after varsity demotion; athletics committee to review

A Southmoreland senior asked the board to reconsider a varsity cheer demotion that she described as a painful surprise after two years of varsity participation. The student said coaches initially told her she would not need to try out, then reversed that decision; at tryouts she said she performed well but was placed on junior varsity while other seniors made varsity.

"I'm a human being, not a score, and I'm asking you to please look at the big picture and give me the opportunity to be on this Scottie cheer squad my senior year," she told the board. Several board members and administrators responded that athletics committee review and a policy committee review would be the appropriate venue; they confirmed an athletic committee meeting on April 2 in the student union where the issue would be discussed and, if necessary, elevated to policy status.

Board members noted there may not be a written district policy that covers senior eligibility for individual sports and said individual sports committees often have bylaws; the board agreed to look into whether the issue is district policy or an athletics-specific rule and to make committee arrangements accordingly.