No More Welcome Mat For Private School Athletes

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Dozens of teenagers who used to be welcome to play sports at Minneapolis Public Schools have now been kicked off their teams, and it's not because they misbehaved or played poorly.

It's a change in stance toward students who attend private or charter schools.

Many districts allow seventh and eighth graders to compete on high school teams, but when you attend a small Catholic school like Carondolet in south Minneapolis, it's not an option.

That's why Minnesota allows private, parochial and charter school students in that situation to try out for public high school sports in the cities where they live.

Ellie Puzak, a 13-year-old student at Carondolet, won several tennis matches for the Southwest High School team last season.

"It's really cool to be like a younger student on the team with all the older kids," she said. "I don't know, it's special."

But the Minneapolis Public School District abruptly ended that arrangement this fall, essentially saying "if you want to be on our teams, attend our schools."

Two other Carondolet students, Amelia Backes and Nicole Ryden, were told they could no longer be on the Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team, which draws students from several public schools.

"I was really bummed," Backes said, "because I had planned on skiing for a long time."

"I didn't really plan for this to happen so I didn't have a Plan B for another way to ski," Ryden said.

Parents said they've been frustrated trying to get an explanation.

Darryl Savage's kids have all been through Minneapolis Public Schools. But as one of the leaders of the Minneapolis Alpine Ski Team, he's welcomed the private school kids over the years.

"This isn't about sports," he said. "That's the thing that's so hard. It's about relationships, it's about wanting to be part of something bigger and all these friendships that are made."

So now, as the Southwest tennis team competes, one of its best players is watching from the stands.

"It's hard," Puzak said. "I'd rather be playing, but I'm cheering for them."

Parents of private school kids say, as Minneapolis residents, their property taxes are already supporting public schools.

WCCO-TV contacted Minneapolis Public Schools. A spokesperson in the communications office said, "Everyone is just swamped today."

She said she couldn't make anyone available to provide any information on this issue.