Zoning and Athletic Choice Policy Unfairly Limits Lacrosse Opportunities

The negative impact of the zoning and redistricting policies of Manatee County Schools is affecting families throughout the county. Despite the school choice option, this reality is parents' and student athletes' nightmare.

Student athletes are affected by the zoning excluding their opportunities from playing Lacrosse. The current policy of zoning forces athletes and their families to live within their district in order to attend their school but not on athletic choice unless they are in the district, if their current school does not offer the sport.

Did you know lacrosse is not offered at all the local high schools in Manatee County? The current zoning policy has posed a greater challenge for student-athletes for athletic choice, especially with Lacrosse, which is upsetting to passionate players like our son, who is currently a Freshman at Lakewood Ranch Prep Academy.

There are families who live in the local area that have to choose affordable housing opportunities or make huge sacrifices to live in a district where the hardship of purchasing a home is impossible for middle-class families. The Lakewood Ranch district is a good example. In our personal story, our sons have been affected by the nightmare of zoning and being unable to play Lacrosse for athletic choice due to their address, which has been frustrating and overwhelming.

Did you know that in the Lakewood Ranch district, the average house for sale is approximately $375k for a townhome, $403k for a villa, and an average of $505k for a traditional single-family home? Who in their right mind can afford to buy at such insane pricing when traditional single-family household income salaries are not even close to the asking price of those homes?

Our son is one of many experiencing such a nightmare. The district has denied our appeal for our son to play Lacrosse. Yes, the housing at Lakewood Ranch is not affordable for middle-class families. Our children have played Lacrosse all their lives and are now being excluded from playing due to zoning, zip code, and districting.

According to the district, our current address is districted to Braden River High, which does not offer Lacrosse. Lakewood Ranch Prep also does not offer Lacorsse but has an excellent academic program, which we’ve chosen for our sons, allowing them to maximize their opportunities to receive bright future scholarships and attend any universities in Florida if they graduate with the PaCE certificate.

Despite our unique circumstances and appeal, no one is willing to help. I asked to meet with the district board members to discuss my concerns and appeal. I called our local leaders, including our local congressman, and the only thing they said was that they would reach out to the district for inquiry. We are still waiting for that phone call. How do we move forward?

Lacrosse is our beloved sport, our lifestyle, and our ministry as a family. To many student-athletes, including our sons, it brings positivity in their lives, an opportunity to be shared by the Native Americans to all of us. Our sons have been instrumental in helping grow Lacrosse in our local area. They have advocated for the sports to be taught and helped at camps to introduce the game and practices. They have introduced their friends and teachers to the sport and contributed to the positive impact of teamwork, collaboration, and discipline. Are you aware that today, it is one of the fastest-growing sports throughout the nation with open opportunities?

Our district has limited our children's opportunities by not offering Lacrosse throughout the local schools and excluded student athletes from their career opportunities by creating policies with zoning and districting that affect their ability to play. The citizens of our great county should ask the local policymakers to modify their districting and zoning commitment. Local leaders and policymakers should be focusing on and advocating for families and students for their success. The FHSA and local district should offer lacrosse throughout the schools, giving children opportunities to play regardless of where they live.

Football is fully funded and offered in all the high schools, but Lacrosse is not offered. Why is it excluded in a growing town? The policy has excluded an excellent sport with great potential and affects many student-athletes throughout our local schools.

Did you know that only three high schools offer lacrosse for boys and girls? Did you know that while football is fully funded, lacrosse has to raise $50,000 per team? Why? Am I the only parent who sees the indifference?

I grew up in Manatee County all my life. I love our town and enjoy the opportunities to serve our community. Over the years, I have seen so many changes, some are good and some bad especially with the affordable housing crisis for middle-class families. As parents, we exercise the right to choose a school and athletic choices for our children so that they can excel in all areas of their lives and become contributors to our great city as they develop.

Lacrosse has offered many athletes an opportunity to be great and create a family culture that accepts all athletes regardless of their skin color. Still, the zoning and districting policy has created roadblocks. We encourage our children to excel in academics and be passionate about the sports they play, but the policy does not support our children’s success. Zoning and redistricting are an obvious hindrance limiting student athletes' growth, development, wellness, and quality of life.

Reynarichie Bragg
Manatee County