Parent asks Blackhawk board to allow injured student to continue cheering while recovering

At the Nov. 7 meeting a parent urged the Blackhawk School District Board of Directors to reconsider a decision that has left her daughter unable to try out for basketball after tearing an ACL in May, saying the student can safely participate as a cheerleader during recovery.

Kara Smith (introduced by the meeting clerk) described the injury and the family’s difficulties: "On May 22 at a Blackhawk High School basketball practice, she sustained a serious injury during a drill where she tore her ACL," Smith said. She told the board that her daughter has been allowed to cheer during the JV football season but was denied the chance to try out for basketball. "She spent all summer in excruciating pain... She's crying and in practice every single day wondering if she would ever feel normal to ever cheer again or ever play basketball again," the parent said.

The parent said the cheer families were not given reasons when some games were canceled, described limited responses from athletic staff, and asked the board to allow the student to cheer while she recovers. The chair expressed sympathy and said administrators would contact the family the next day to discuss the matter further. "We will ask a member of our administration to be back in touch with you first thing tomorrow to discuss this further," the chair said.

District staff did not announce an immediate policy change during the meeting. Board members and athletic staff said they would follow up with the parent. The administration’s offer to reach out was the most recent procedural step reported at the meeting; no formal appeal or vote occurred on the parent’s request during the session.