Ronan school board against Sunday games
Megan Strickland
Superintendent Andy Holmlund explains a proposed Montana High School Sports Association rule that would allow schools to play sports on Sundays.
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RONAN – Ronan administrators and school board members want to keep Sunday a day of rest, at least when it comes to extracurricular activities.
The board unanimously directed Superintendent Andy Holmlund to oppose a proposed Montana High High School Sports Association rule change that would allow school districts to write their own rules about playing sports on Sunday.
Currently activities are allowed every day of the week except Sunday, Holmlund said.
“This came out of Oregon where you had a religious group that was not able to participate on Saturdays,” Holmlund said. “They then said, ‘Well, you have discriminated against us because you will not participate on Sundays.’ The equivalent body, high school association of Oregon, lost the case.”
Holmlund said the rule would absolve the sports association of liability in a lawsuit. Currently, the sports association is the only entity that can give permission to participate on Sunday, and it does so in rare circumstances, such as weather delays for state tournaments.
“This is going to be something that we are now going to have to battle in our own communities,” Holmlund said. “Now it would become (the district’s) issue to handle.”
Holmlund predicts the measure to be passed by the sports association, though it failed last year. The Ronan board was overwhelmingly against it.
“What kind of an issue is it going to open up for the state if this school says they are going to play on Sundays and this one doesn’t?” Board Chairman Bob Cornwell said. “Even for events and stuff like that, I see a mess of conflicting schedules, aside from the legal aspects.”
Cornwell said he worries the rule will allow more focus to be placed on sports, instead of academics.
“I agree,” Trustee Darrell Clairmont said. “I would prefer that if we play on Sunday, it only be for special circumstances. It’s nice to have one day where you know your kids won’t be traveling.”
Trustee Tom Anderson said he didn’t like the proposal because it shifts any potential legal liability away from the sports association.
“They are going to shift the liability over to us,” Anderson said.
The sports association was expected to vote on the matter Monday.
