The Arizona Interscholastic Association has rescinded its previous decision to impose a one-year probationary period on the Mingus Union High School girls’ track and field and cross-country programs.
The AIA executive board placed the MUHS girls’ track and cross-country programs on probation on Jan. 17 after a parent — Mingus Union High School District Governing Board member Austin Babcock — allowed his daughter to run in the state girls’ cross-country championship although she was not eligible to do so, without the coaches’ and athletic director’s knowledge.
The MUHSD Governing Board subsequently voted unanimously to file an appeal to the AIA’s decision during their Jan. 25 meeting.
Babcock later recused himself from voting on the board’s motion directing its legal counsel to file an appeal with the AIA.
On Feb. 7, the AIA executive board decided to replace the probationary period with a one-year warning. The girls’ teams will still be eligible for post-season competition next fall.
“The Mingus Union Governing Board, administration, coaches and athletes appreciate this AIA Executive Board action and look forward to all upcoming spring sports, which got underway on Monday, Feb. 6,” MUHSD superintendant Mike Westcott stated in an email on Feb. 8.
Carol Durkalec stated her dissatisfaction with allowing children to be put at risk for offenses they did not commit. She also expressed a fear that the parent involved, Babcock, was using his position on the Governing Board as a safe haven for his child.
Babcock responded that it was painful to see something taken from his child. He claimed that his daughter should have been able to run, but there were complications and things were not submitted on time. Babcock added that these events took place before he was a member of the board and denied the claim that he was using his position as leverage.
Board member Anthony Lozano stated that he might have done the same thing if it was his child.
At the Feb. 9 MUHSD board meeting, MUHS Principal Regina Gee noted that the school’s grade ranking from the Arizona Department of Education had increased from a C in 2021 to a B in 2022. The last time there was a school-wide B average was in 2017.
During the meeting, a student presented a request to name the softball field Field of Faith in honor of student Faith Moore, who died in a flash flood last July.
A group of teachers also requested the formation of an advisory committee to discuss a four-day school week. Seventeen teachers and administrators formed an exploratory group in January 2022 to conduct preliminary research and distributed a parent survey. They found that the majority of parents would prefer a four day school week and agreed that it would improve student attendance.
The greatest concern the group found among parents was the need for a longer school day; conversely, potential benefits of the change include more family time, better student wellbeing and more time for student employment.
The group is requesting that the board vote on the formation of the committee at the next meeting, which will be held on March 9 at 6 p.m. at the Mingus Union High library.
