Millis committee directs administration to enforce handbook; limits middle‑schoolers to sub‑varsity heats

The Millis School Committee voted 3–1 on Dec. 23 to direct the administration to adhere to the middle‑school handbook requirement that seventh‑ and eighth‑grade athletes participate only at the sub‑varsity level. The motion was moved by Miss Gibbons and seconded by Miss Kaneshari.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment and a detailed exchange with Superintendent Malaney, coaches and the athletic director about how winter track meets are conducted. Superintendent Malaney told the committee that at events such as those held at the Reggie Lewis Center, middle‑school athletes traditionally run alongside high‑school athletes but “do not score” and therefore do not factor into team results. Coaches described lower‑pressure JV meets at Hopkinton as an alternative venue where middle‑schoolers gain experience and officially timed results.

The discussion was prompted in part by a midseason incident recounted by parent Jenna Veil, who said a board member had challenged the participation of legally‑waivered eighth graders in a varsity race; she said the superintendent initially banned the athletes from a race and then reversed that decision the next day. “What those kids went through that week was unnecessarily stressful, harmful and divisive as a team,” Veil said during public comment.

Coaches and several parents urged the committee to preserve opportunities for middle‑school athletes. Coach Martin said the district’s policy and practice had long allowed middle‑schoolers to compete at the “lowest possible level” and described Hopkinton JV meets as a developmentally appropriate option. “We allow them to run because they deserve that as they always have,” Coach Martin said, adding that when middle‑schoolers do run in combined heats they are not counted in meet scoring.

Committee members pressed for a clear policy interpretation. Miss Stevens and others asked whether times and results for middle‑schoolers appear on public websites; coaches confirmed that electronically timed results are posted on athletic.net and list a student’s name and grade. Powers, who cast the lone No vote, said he was not satisfied that the handbook’s two clauses (“may participate up to sub‑varsity” and “must participate at the lowest available level”) were reconciled by the motion and remained concerned about exceptions created by single‑race formats.

Under the committee’s directive, if no sub‑varsity/JV heat exists for a given event at a meet (for example, the mile at Reggie Lewis, which is run as a single combined race), middle‑school athletes would not be permitted to compete in that combined varsity heat and therefore could be blocked from competing that day unless another appropriate JV event is available.

The administration and coaches were given direction to ensure future entries and meet participation comply with the handbook language. The committee scheduled its next meeting for Jan. 7 at 7:30 a.m.