‘Sue-happy society’ pressuring school to discontinue program stunts

Sept. 18--WILLARD -- In a special board meeting tonight, Willard City Schools is slated to decide whether it will continue to allow stunting in its cheerleading program. That would make Willard one of -- if not the last -- school systems in the county to do so, officials said.

Following issues raised across the state as part of an ongoing debate of whether cheerleading stunting is a safe activity at the high-school level, the board must take a side on whether it will continue to allow it. The district could face the possibility of having tripled insurance rates or discontinuing something many students are passionate about in the name of safety and financial security.

The official decision is on the agenda for tonight's meeting, which begins at 5 p.m. Also on the agenda is a closed-door session discussing the dismissal of a public employee.

"Pressure is being put us on from the insurance companies to decide whether we're going to allow it," board member Royden Smith said Monday.

"We're one of the few, if not the only school in the area, that still allows the stunting. We have to weigh the risk we're going to put ourselves in versus the desire of the students," he added, referring to skyrocketing insurance rates should an accident occur. "It's unfortunate, but in today's sue-happy society the pressure is definitely there to not allow it."

When the issue was raised at the September meeting, the board agreed to gather more information before making a motion, in favor of making a "good, informed decision." Smith said Superintendent Jeff Ritz will gather data from the district insurance company and "where it stands on the matter."

Cheerleading coach Marisa Flores said she would gather information from students and parents on whether they would be willing to pay or waive the student insurance offered by the school and information on any training that may assist her in meeting safety requirements for cheer-stunting. Flores and Ritz will present their findings to the board tonight.

Smith said the board would like to approve the girls' continuation of the activities, but it will take having just the right recipe for success to offer the proper amount of safety and appease the concerns of the insurance companies.

"We're just talking two or three events a year," he said. "They're already not allowed to do stunts at sanctioned OSHAA events. I feel like I'm between rock and hard place because we'd love to say, 'Hey, go ahead and do it; we've got the blessing of the insurance company.'"

"This whole thing makes me want to puke because unless we get sued; this is (pointless)," board member Marsha Danhoff said at the September meeting. "We'd be taking it away from the girls for no reason, but we can't know. ... I'd like to look at this more before we make a decision."

Smith said he doesn't understand why the companies have issue with cheerleading stunting when that's not the case with gymnastics.

"And they're certainly leaving the ground a lot in that too," he added.

"I really don't feel they're targeting cheerleading," Smith said. "The (insurance company) views it as taking it one step further (than gymnastics) I guess, because you're relying on the other person, trusting that other person with they lift or throw you in the air.

"At the same time, I think it's a poor excuse (when the insurance companies compare it with) football, when you say you're in control of your own body in football. That's a poor excuse. Let's go back 20 years ago in football; now they're limiting how you can hit because of the huge head-injury issue. I think it's just a matter of time before they bring (these restrictions) to football too. I think eventually it's going to dictate how you play the game.

"It's shame. Physical fitness is definitely needed in our society and our rules and regulations are making it awfully hard," Smith said.

No other board members could be reached for comment Monday.

If stunting is approved to continue tonight, the cheerleaders could perform the activity as part of the Willard High School homecoming activities, when the Flashes will face St. Mary's CC at 7 p.m. Sept. 28.

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