The Lawrence school board on Monday voted to implement esports in middle and high schools this year.
The unanimous approval, with a vote of 7-0, was part of the consent agenda — a list of items routinely approved in one motion unless a board member or the superintendent pulls an item for discussion. No discussion on the item took place Monday.
Adding esports could cost the district between about $8,000 and $10,400 per building the first year of implementation and $314 each of the following two years, according to the item on the board’s meeting agenda Monday. Most costs would be paid from the district’s capital outlay fund.
Purchases will include Nintendo Switch consoles, team uniforms, an annual participation fee and other smaller gaming equipment and platforms. In total, the district could spend up to $66,000 over the first three years on the equipment and games.
“Costs are lower and more predictable than many traditional extracurricular programs; funding is from designated capital outlay funds,” the agenda item says.
Esports is not gender-based, and each competition team consists of three players.
The district will fill coach or sponsor positions internally and offer them payment via a stipend, which would be based on a negotiated agreement.
According to the Kansas State High School Activities Association projected calendar, esports teams could start practice in November and compete December through January. In partnership with PlayVS, KSHAA plans to offer at least Rocket League, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
KSHSAA board members voted in April to sanction esports as an interscholastic activity beginning in the 2025-26 year. Adoption of esports was up for the Lawrence school board’s consideration at the Aug. 25 meeting, but members tabled their vote to receive more information from the district, particularly about costs.
Students participating in esports must meet the same academic eligibility requirements as other KSHSAA activities.
The growing activity lends itself to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning, and students who aspire to compete in college could be recruited or offered scholarships, according to the district. The University of Kansas and Baker University, for example, have varsity programs, and Haskell Indian Nations University has a club team.
See the agenda item on BoardDocs for more information.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
