The Madison Metropolitan School District Athletic Directors have proposed a restructuring of the existing gymnastics team co-op between Madison East and LaFollette High Schools (Madison United). This proposal would mandate the formation of new co-ops with Madison West and Memorial High Schools. Coaches and gymnasts have expressed significant concerns regarding this restructuring, and requests for open dialogue and transparency from the Athletic Directors have been unmet.

CALL TO ACTION:

We respectfully request your signature on this petition to express our collective desire for a thorough and transparent review of the Co-op decision affecting the MMSD gymnastics program. We request that the Athletic Directors exhaust all potential solutions before considering disbandment, with meaningful participation from the coaching staff. 

Key Concerns:

1. Equity and Title IX Compliance: The proposed removal of the East/LaFollette co-op raises serious Title IX concerns, particularly regarding transportation equity. Under Title IX, schools must provide equal access to athletic opportunities, including fair and equitable treatment in benefits and services. Requiring female athletes to travel across town to participate in their sport—when boys teams are not subject to the same burden—creates a clear disparity. This additional travel not only places an undue burden on female athletes but also creates barriers to participation for students who lack reliable transportation or financial resources. If this change discourages or limits participation in girls’ athletics while boys sports remain unaffected, MMSD risks non-compliance with Title IX.
2. Reduced Participation and Accessibility: Combining these programs will inevitably shrink the number of roster spots available, leaving fewer student-athletes with the opportunity to compete. This is especially concerning for students who lack the financial means to train in private clubs and rely on high school athletics for access to the sport.
3. Disruption of Team Culture & Development: The existing co-op is not only functional but also growing. There are 13 students currently participating, filling their full team JV and Varsity rosters at competition, with a new coach working to rebuild the program, having already successfully cultivated a strong team culture during her first season. Breaking it up now is counterproductive to this growth and undermines the progress already being made.
4. Strain on Coaching and Athlete Development: With Madison West already fielding a team of 26 athletes, a forced co-op merger without cuts would make individualized coaching significantly more difficult. This impacts skill development, safety, and the ability to foster a positive and supportive team environment.
5. Lack of Transparency and Stakeholder Input: Coaches, athletes, and parents should have a seat at the table before major structural changes are implemented, especially when they have such lasting consequences on students experiences. Including us in the discussion, allows for a wider share of resources and knowledge to better solve any issues our programs are facing.
6. Budget & Resource Allocation Transparency: If will funds will be allocated, and how does this shift improve financial efficiency? Before dismantling an established team, have all alternative solutions been explored?

Recent Backstory:

There’s been talk since the start of this 24-25 gymnastics season about issues with Madison East HS not being able to provide space for the United gymnastics program. Before our season, MMSD Ads tried telling Memorial and West coaches that we all would have to share Court One of fieldhouse space at Memorial with United as well. (FOUR high schools sharing one space for the full 4 months. We said we would work together to temporarily make this work for this season IF MMSD would provide transportation for East-side student and give us Court 2, to use East’s equipment, but we were told they have too many basketball teams so that space wasn’t an option for us) Logistically for many reasons, as we outlined in emails to the ADs, this was not possible, so that discussion was dropped. Season began as usual with each team in their usual locations. (West sharing space at Memorial, and United at East). 

Partway through season, Ads were mentioning talks of splitting the United co-op and merging each of those teams with one of memorial and west programs, and despite requests for transparency of issues and involvement in discussions to problem solve, we were left out of any further discussion and not giving any further information. During the final weeks of season, MMSD coaches started hearing similar plans for this co-op change from other coaches in our Conference who were informed from their ADs for reasons like not sending out next year’s contracts for invites to United, etc. mentioning they will have open spots to invite other teams. As of Tuesday, February 25th, United’s coach has been told directly for the first time of this co-op change after a district AD meeting, stating that the full announcement will come this Friday, February 28th.  

More Information:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13S7TuBxN0B2dIfti5IR_UuOx-jWJdeIwEqL5-N4fxQ0/edit?usp=drivesdk