Coversheet


AGENDA ITEM COVER PAGE

Meeting Date:	December 15, 2020
Agenda Item:	Second Reading and Request Approval of Esports, a Form of Sport Competition Using Video Games
Responsible Staff:	Todd Lile, Superintendent Sheryl Sisil, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Marty Bitter, Director of Athletics
Agenda Placement:	Old Business
Effective Dates:	12/16/2020

Item Status:

Revisited

Background:

CIF has partnered with Play VS to provide high school students the unique opportunity to play a different type of sport. ESports players across the country are changing what it means to be a student-athlete. Esports takes video gaming to another level with organized competitive gameplay between two teams, governed by its own strict set of rules and guidelines. ESports requires teamwork, communication, critical and strategic thinking, creativity, sportsmanship, and leadership much like traditional sports.

Rationale:

Being on an Esports team brings a number of immediate and long term benefits.

Gaining Skills for Career and College

ESports helps students learn valuable, skills among them are strategic thinking, teamwork, collaboration, goal setting, preparation, and managing success and failure.

Expanded Career Opportunities

ESports is a fast growing industry that offers many job opportunities. These include careers related to production, programming, streaming, management of Esports teams, game development, graphic design, marketing, video production and STEM fields.

A Pathway to College

More than 60 colleges offer Esports programs. Tournament prizes in the form of scholarships to help students pay for college. Esports at the high school level can motivate previously uninterested students to continue on to higher education.

Social Engagement & Social Skills Development

Competitive Esports provides a way for like-minded students to meet in person on a regular basis, in pursuit of common goals. Providing a sense of belonging for those who might otherwise opt out of school activities. It provides the opportunity to form friendships, gain respect from fellow students and gain increased self-esteem.

Improved Performance and Retention

Research has shown that students who compete in high school activities do better in school. This includes higher grades, higher achievement scores, and higher education expectations beyond high school.

Better Choices and Healthier Behaviors

Students who participate in traditional sports tend to smoke less and eat healthier as well as spend more time doing homework. They also tend to score much higher on measures of healthy behaviors and social connection, as well as lower for unhealthy behaviors.

Fiscal Impact:

Covid-19 Funds

Equipment Cost: $71,657.92

Coaching: 1 head: $2,652.10 per each high school

Coaching: 1 assistant: $2,121.68 per each high school

Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,415.00 per each high school

Community Compact Core Values
These questions frame our decisions when considering expenditures and initiatives. We want our budget, programs, and priorities to be aligned to our vision, mission, goals, beliefs, and values to ensure we're moving the district in a positive direction our community and trustees believe in and support.

Equity Before Equality
Will this prioritize Equity?

Student Centered
Is this focused on students' needs?

Collaborative Culture
Will this facilitate a collaborative culture?

X	Excellence for All Will this promote excellence for all?

Learning Organization
Will this further the development of our learning organization?

Community Relationships
Will this foster and deepen relationships with our community partners?

Results Oriented
Will this be measured effectively and results oriented?

HONESTY + COMPETENCY = TRUST

Madera Unified Strategic Goals
Check the LCAP Pillar supported by this item.

Pillar 1: Equitable access to rigorous high-level programs

Pillar 3: Safe and healthy environments for learning and work

Pillar 2: Data-driven professional learning and collaboration

Pillar 4: Strong relationships with families and community

Governing Board of Trustees' Goals

Clarity and Consistency at All Levels

Excellence in All Things

X	Changing Perceptions & Mindsets of Staff and Community

This item complies with the following Board Policy(ies) and Board Bylaw(s):

BP 6145 Extracurricular And Co-curricular Activities

This items fulfills/complies with Board Policy through the following ways:

The Madera Unified School District Governing Board recognizes that extracurricular and co-curricular activities enrich the educational and social development of students and enhance students' feelings of connectedness with the schools. The District shall encourage and support student participation in extracurricular and co-curricular activities without compromising the integrity and purpose of the educational program.

(cf. 1330 - Use of School Facilities)

(cf. 5137 - Positive School Climate)

(cf. 6145.2 - Athletic Competition)

(cf. 5148.2 - Before/After School Programs)

Prerequisites for student participation in extracurricular and co-curricular activities shall be limited to those that have been demonstrated to be essential to the success of the activity. No extracurricular or co-curricular program or activity shall be provided or conducted separately on the basis of any actual or perceived characteristic listed as a prohibited category of discrimination in state or federal law, nor shall any student's participation in an extracurricular or co-curricular activity be required or refused on those bases. (5 CCR 4925)

(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)

(cf. 5145.3 - Nondiscrimination/Harassment)

(cf. 5145.7 - Sexual Harassment)

(cf. 6145.5 - Student Organizations and Equal Access)

Any complaint alleging unlawful discrimination in the district's extracurricular or co-curricular programs or activities shall be filed in accordance with BP/AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures.

(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures)

Unless specifically authorized by law, no student shall be charged a fee for his/her participation in educational activities, including extracurricular and co-curricular activities and materials or equipment related to the activity such activities.

(cf. 3260 - Fees and Charges)

(cf. 3452 - Student Activity Funds)

To be eligible to participate in extracurricular and co-curricular activities, students in grades 7-12 must demonstrate satisfactory educational progress in the previous grading period, including, but not limited to:

1. Maintenance of a minimum of 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in all enrolled classes

2. Maintenance of minimum progress toward meeting high school graduation requirements

(cf. 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)

(cf. 6146.1 - High School Graduation Requirements)

Superintendent's Recommendation to the MUSD Governing Board of Trustees:

The Superintendent recommends the Board to approve Esports offering a completely new group of students amazing opportunities for personal and professional growth. In addition to the well-documented social and physical benefits of group activities, Esports is able to offer students improved academic professional opportunities.

ATTACHMENTS:

Description

ESports Budget