The Trousdale County Board of Education voted 3–1 on Thursday to rescind a prior board action that allowed the district to charge homeschool students a participation fee to play on Trousdale County teams.

Dr. Satterfield reported the district consulted Mark Reed, the executive director of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA), and the board’s attorney, Deborah. According to the superintendent’s summary and the attorney’s written advice, TSSAA no longer includes permissive language allowing a Local Education Agency to impose a homeschool-only participation fee, and the attorney recommended the district not charge a fee that would apply only to homeschool students.

"Neither the statute nor the TSSAA rules prevent a fee charged exclusively to homeschool students," the attorney advised the board, according to the superintendent’s report; she said the only permissible fee would be one charged to all participating students equally.

Board member discussion acknowledged the fairness argument for collecting fees to support team costs but also noted the attorney’s recommendation and potential legal risk. Board member Miss Butler seconded the motion to rescind the prior action; the board approved the rescission 3–1 (three in favor, one opposed; names of individual yes/no votes as recorded in the meeting packet correspond to the board roll but the transcript records the outcome as 3–1).

Superintendent Satterfield told the board the original policy had been approved in July 2024 but had not been practically applied for the current season because many tryouts and team selections had already occurred when the policy was adopted. The rescission removes the $500 homeschool athletic participation fee previously authorized by the board and directs the district to follow the attorney’s guidance.

Board members said homeschool families remain welcome to participate subject to the same fees and requirements other participating students pay. The board did not discuss a replacement policy that would charge a uniform participation fee to all students.