Local charter school to add competitive sports

A local charter school is joining the Idaho High School Athletics Association. This means competitive interscholastic sports are coming to the school for the first time.

Eyewitness News 3 anchor Todd Kunz went to the school to see which sports they will be adding and to get reaction from the students, coaches and parents.

“Oh, it’s for the kids. It will add a dynamic to the school that we couldn’t get any other way,” said administrator Dan Wendt. He leads Taylor’s Crossing Charter School, a K-12 school, in Bonneville County. As a charter, Taylor’s Crossing currently doesn’t have competitive high school sports. Wendt loves sports and has been trying to get them added to his school since he became administrator more than four years ago.

“It’s a huge undertaking,” he said.

Wendt said the gears really started turning in September 2017. The school will add boys and girls high school basketball this fall, along with volleyball. It will add cross-country next year.

“As far as I know, we’re the only charter school that is part of the Idaho High School Athletics Association,” said Wendt.

Wendt said this will be a benefit to students. He said it will build a camaraderie and cohesiveness in the student body and increase school pride, not to mention the opportunities that could come for a student athlete down the road. Some of the players agree.

“Playing sports through this school can open up a lot of opportunities for colleges and stuff like that, said Kaycee, who is a junior and will play volleyball in the fall.

“Are you excited to play volleyball at this school?” asked Kunz to another female student.

“Yeah,” said Maddie, a junior.

“Why?” asked Kunz.

“I used to go to North Dakota and we had a school and volleyball there. And now when I came here, you couldn’t play, but now that you can play, it’s pretty cool,” said Maddie.

“My older brothers played sports. My younger brother plays sports. I mean, and they go to, like, public schools. And since I came here, I wasn’t able to and it kind of, like, frustrated me because I do enjoy playing sports, and now that we can, I mean, it makes this school, like, I like going here a little more,” said Ethan, who is also a junior and will play basketball this fall.

“It’s going to be great for students to interact with each other,” said Austin, who is a junior who will be on the boys basketball team.

“A lot of people like to talk down on this school and I think this is, like, one thing that will give people reason to say ‘oh, this is a good thing,'” said Aiden, who is also a junior and will play basketball.

Parents agree it’s a good thing. One that Kunz talked with will have a senior son playing basketball this fall.

“He is stoked. He is so excited about it. When they announce that they are going to start this program, it was really a wonderful blessing for him that he would have this opportunity, even though he’s a senior, in at least his last year of high school,” said Rick Davis, a parent.

The school has already hired two of the three head coaches, plus an assistant.

“The players are ecstatic about it. We had a meeting last week. So many students coming out. There’s actually a ton of talent here at this school, kids who have played all growing up, they maybe didn’t get the opportunity at some of the bigger schools in the area,” said Ryan Hatch, the boys varsity basketball head coach.

“I think it’s great. It brings a lot more morale and spirit to the school. The kids are excited about it,” said Damon Bush, the assistant boys basketball coach and physical education teacher.

“We are going to have so much fun and it’s such a great boon for these high school kids. It gives them a new outlet. We’re just excited that they’ve decided to add this dimension to our school.,” said Mary Meldrum, the girls volleyball head coach and a science teacher.

“Everything that I’ve heard is a positive. They are excited about it. They’re going, ‘Thank you! We’ve waited for this day,'” said Wendt when Kunz asked about the overall reaction from people in the school.

Taylor’s Crossing Charter School will compete against the 1A schools. They already have Butte County, Challis, and Grace on the schedule. They are looking to add Leadore, Mackay, North Gem, and Watersprings.

Taylor’s Crossing is its own school district, District 461. It has its own school board which is the governing body of the school. A charter school is not a private school.

“A charter school is a publicly-funded school. We see public funds like every other public school in the state of Idaho. And the difference is that we have a charter that guides our mission, our focus, what we’re all about, but we’re still a public school. And education at a charter school is free. We do not charge anything for students who attend here and we have a great education.”

Taylor’s Crossing charter is focused on kindness, respect and accelerated academics.

Wendt said there are a number of motivators as to why a parent would send their child to a charter school. He said the biggest reason is the climate and culture of the school. Being a smaller school, they have a cohesive student body and the teachers know all the students.

The school has one class per grade from K-12. It currently has 21 faculty and about 400 students.

When a charter school is formed, it tells the state where it will draw its students. Wendt said Taylor’s Crossing draws students from the Idaho Falls School District #91, Bonneville School District #93, Rigby, Ririe, and Shelley as the main areas.

Taylor’s Crossing is accepting applications for enrollment for the next school year. Click here for more information and a link to its website.