Students and families urge board to reinstate high‑school gymnastics; board schedules June 4 follow‑up

Dozens of students, parents and community advocates addressed the Montgomery County Board of Education on May 21 urging the restoration of high‑school gymnastics and greater transparency from MCPS Athletics.

Students including Sienna Shaner and Audrey (last name not stated) described gymnastics as a key all‑girls opportunity and said replacing it with stunt cheerleading — a coed activity — would reduce female athletic opportunities and could raise Title IX concerns. Parents and community members added that gymnasts across the county have mobilized petitions (more than 1,200 signatures cited) and requested written rationale from Athletics and a clear stakeholder engagement process.

One parent, Judy Saxena, described mental‑health impacts she linked to the athletics decision and asked the board to demand full disclosure from the Athletics office: "If they were confident in their decision, there wouldn't be this trail of non‑responses and stonewalling," she said. Board President Grace Rivera‑Oven told speakers the board had scheduled the gymnastics matter for a June 4 meeting to ensure student athletes could attend and to allow the board to hear additional information from Athletics.

The board did not take action on the athletics decision at the May 21 meeting; it committed to a June 4 hearing and asked staff to provide any written rationales and evidence presented by the Athletics office. Students asked for both reinstatement and clear criteria if Athletics wishes to alter seasons in the future.