Beginning with the school year 2010-2011, as a result of a particularly difficult fiscal crisis, the school division implemented an Athletic Participation Fee. The fee, coupled with the school board's commitment to funding more than $250,000 in operational costs (coaches stipends, game officials, transportation, etc) allowed us to maintain most of our programs. Although, even with the fee and school board support, we saw the loss of: 11 coaching positions, our winter JV cheer program, and reductions in all of the coaching stipends. As the School Board enters another budget season they will be exploring many options to continue to fund our athletic programs.
Some history…
• Prior to 2010 students did not pay a participation fee. Equipment and supplies funding looked like this:
* School board allocated funds accounted for approximately 60%.
* Athletes and their families routinely participated in fundraising projects accounting for 17% of all athletic department purchases.
* Event admission fees accounted for approximately 23% of available funds.
Capital projects (bleachers, scoreboards, field renovations) were almost exclusively paid for by the athletic boosters, or other project-specific fundraising.
• From 2010 to today, equipment and supplies funding looks like this:
* Student-paid fees account for 75% of available funds.
* Event admission fees account for approximately 25% of available funds.
* Athletes and their families are NOT asked to routinely participate in team-specific fundraising.
Capital improvement projects and “big ticket” purchases (think tennis ball machines, softball pitching machines, etc) have essentially been eliminated, unless outside funding sources are available.
