An Arlington eighth grader brought the fight for boys volleyball to last week’s School Board meeting.
Sam Luchessi, a student at Kenmore Middle School, pressed Board members to include funding in their fiscal year 2027 budget so the sport could be added at the high-school level. The Arlington school system already funds girls volleyball, with competition in the fall.
“We already have the equipment” to support boys competition, Luchessi said.
Superintendent Francisco Durán’s proposed $856 million budget for fiscal year 2027 mentioned that staff considered adding both boys volleyball and girls flag football to athletic programming, but no funding was available.
Adding volleyball would cost approximately $50,000 annually while adding flag football would cost $24,000, the budget proposal projected.
“Volleyball is the fastest growing male sport in the U.S.,” Luchessi said, adding that it is sanctioned by the Virginia High School League and has been adopted by the school systems in Alexandria, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Loudoun and Prince William.
“I play for a travel team, but not every student has that opportunity in Arlington,” he said. “A boy’s chance to play volleyball should not depend on their parents’ income.”
While boys volleyball is growing as a high-school sport across Northern Virginia, competition remains dominated by downstate teams, where it has been a high-school athletic staple for more years.
Typically, School Board members do not directly reply to speakers during the public-comment period. However, Miranda Turner, filling in for the absent Board Chair Bethany Zecher Sutton, said Luchessi had provided “excellent, inspiring remarks about a fantastic sport.”
Board members are expected to finalize their fiscal 2027 spending plan in the next three weeks.
Also at the April 16 School Board meeting:
Immunization rates remain high: Superintendent Francisco Durán told School Board members that student-immunization rates remain above 95% as the school year nears its conclusion.
Immunization against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) is “nearly universal,” the superintendent said.
During the school year, about 600 students have received vaccinations through the school system’s health program.
Partnership program kicks off: Superintendent Francisco Durán formally kicked off the school system’s “Adopt-a-School” initiative with remarks to School Board members.
“We hope to build long-term partnerships to support student success and expand opportunities,” he said.
The new initiative grew out of a working group convened last year. Businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies can take part.
“We would like to make sure that each of our schools has a partner,” the superintendent said.
Partnering groups are asked to take part in at least one support event per quarter at their school. Efforts can include mentoring, tutoring, sponsoring events, holding staff recognitions, providing school supplies and engaging in beautification efforts.
