The two California high schools that appeared poised to leave the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association in order to comply with California transgender law will stay in the NIAA at least one more year.
As reported by the Reno Gazette Journal, the Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District board met Wednesday night and listened to about 30 community members and students voice their concerns over Truckee and North Tahoe leaving the NIAA for the California Interscholastic Federation.
The two California high schools that appeared poised to leave the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association in order to comply with California transgender law will stay in the NIAA at least one more year.
As reported by the Reno Gazette Journal, the Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District board met Wednesday night and listened to about 30 community members and students voice their concerns over Truckee and North Tahoe leaving the NIAA for the California Interscholastic Federation.
Most of the speakers at the almost three-hour meeting were against moving to the CIF. They cited dangerous travel conditions over I-80 in the winter months, during which the road had an average of 67.3 days of chain controls over the past three years.
Per the reporting of Jim Krajewski, speakers were also concerned about different high school athletic seasons in California, which would mean few soccer opportunities as CIF plays soccer in the winter. The NIAA soccer season is in the fall.
Related: Truckee, North Tahoe Move to California HS Federation Worries Parents
One idea presented Wednesday involved an indoor facility, which was estimated to cost $20.1 million, and take about two years to construct.
Even if such a facility were to be constructed, students at the two California schools who compete on their respective ski and snowboard teams have voiced concerns about having to choose between winter sports.
The move to CIF, announced May 2, was prompted by the NIAA changing its policy on transgender athletes and requiring athletes to play sports according to their designated gender at the time of birth — change that conflicts with California state law.
Related: California Schools Leaving NIAA Over Nevada's Transgender Athlete Ban
"Board members are concerned they will be subject to lawsuits if they comply with the NIAA policy," Krajewski wrote. "By delaying the move to CIF for at least one year, the board and community can see if and how that policy change is enforced by the courts."
