At Broadalbin-Perth, approximately 744 students participate in 15 interscholastic athletic programs. Beginning in middle school, students have the opportunity to play on modified teams where they develop skills and learn sportsmanship. As they get older, students can participate on junior varsity and varsity teams.
Coaches of Broadalbin-Perth sports teams are also members of the district’s faculty, making the playing field an extension of the classroom. Character education is a key focus for student-athletes, who are also coached to develop habits consistent with solid academic behavior.
Costs associated with running each sports program vary widely (see below), but the district has already made efforts in the past two years to save money by reducing the number of away contests and modifying travel plans. Additional savings can be realized three ways: reducing funding to all programs, eliminating a level of competition, or eliminating one or more sports programs.
Should the Board of Education consider making cuts to Broadalbin-Perth’s athletics program? If so, what cuts should they consider – a flat percentage cut to all programs (i.e., 10%); elimination of a level of competition (i.e., all modified teams); or elimination of one or more sports programs (i.e., bowling, volleyball)?
Additional Information
- Broadalbin-Perth’s sports programs can be divided into three categories: high-cost, medium-cost, and low-cost:
- The district’s only high-cost program is football, which costs the district approximately $36,300 each year for coaches salaries, equipment, travel and officials fees.
- Medium-cost sports include baseball, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, softball, boys and girls track, and wrestling. For example, the baseball program costs the district approximately $16,100 for coaches salaries, equipment, travel and officials fees.
- Low-cost sports include bowling, boys and girls cross country, and golf. For example, the golf program costs the district approximately $4,000 for the coach’s salaries, travel and facility use. Students in these programs are responsible for providing their own equipment.
- The cost of running the district’s modified sports program is approximately $64,000 this year.
- Broadalbin-Perth generates a small amount of revenue from its athletics program through ticket sales and renting its athletic facilities to outside organizations for their use.
The best way would be to eliminate a complete level of playing. The modified teams can be run by the youth commission and then more kids can play sports through 7th & 8th grade. If people really want to play competitive modified sports then have them play Travel. There are tons of schools that play just Travel. It is my understanding travel teams have to fund their own teams and the coaches are volunteer?
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of ideas.
ReplyDelete1. Eliminate modified sports with limited interest.
2. Eliminate 7th grade modified sports where the sports are divided by grade.
3. Pass down old equipment from the high school to the middle school. It may not be the best stuff but if the players want the good stuff, have them bring their own stuff to use.
4. Cut team spending. Every year the basketball team does not need new basketballs. Use the same ones for a couple years or buy only a couple new ones for games only.
5. Cut out non-league games.
I do not think modified sports should be cut because our youth commission coaches do not teach them what they learn from our modified coaches. I am not downing youth commission coaches we are lucky we have them but they do not have the knowledge that the school coaches have. If we cut modified levels I feel our high school teams will not be ready for the competition. If you only have travel teams there will be alot of kids who will not be able to participate. Last I knew most uniforms were past down from the high school teams and that is why they are big on the kids. I feel we could cut on some spending for the sports. You need to look at the enrollment in the sport compared to the number of coaches you have. You do not need 2 coaches for 12 kids or 5 for 20 kids. I know some sports like to have many coaches for all aspects but maybe they should double up on some duties until the financial situation can come around. Some teams could raise money for things that they need. Watch the transportation costs. I believe we just took a full size bus to take 3 kids to a sectional track meet!!
ReplyDelete