PRIEST RIVER — With all the controversy surrounding the West Bonner County School District, the question of whether athletes would return to the courts and fields of Priest River was up in the air.

However, former Priest River Lamanna High School athletic director, Chris Taylor confirmed Friday that Spartan student-athletes will be able to participate in athletics this upcoming school year if they so choose.

Taylor told the Daily Bee via email that he was informed by coaches and the Priest River Athletic Department that they “had the green light” for sports programs in the 2023-2024 academic year. Taylor said he enjoyed his first year in Idaho tremendously and was sad to be leaving Priest River.

Although the district will field sports teams, it is still unclear how exactly funds are being allocated. At a board meeting earlier this year, it was reported by the Idaho Education News that sports programs were only going to be partially funded. At that same meeting, Durst commented on the status of extracurricular and co-curricular activities.

“This budget provides ‘some funding’ for those programs,” Durst said. “The total amount of that hasn’t been determined yet because that is obviously a moving target at this point. But I think there is certainly a commitment from my office and from the trustees … to make sure … this budget allows for that.”

Trustees Margaret Hall and Carolyn Barton questioned Durst’s confidence. Hall referred to a potential $280,000 deficit for those athletic and in-school programs, if expenses remain the same as 2022-23.

Hopefully, more details will emerge regarding how exactly extracurricular and co-curricular activities are being budgeted for the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year. The next WBCSD board meeting will be held Wednesday at the Priest River High School cafeteria.