Clarkston schools Athletic Director Dan Fife seemed to be a good sport about it, but some some trustees wondered whether more budget cuts will bench some athletes.
As part of the Monday, Jan. 19 budget brainstorming session, Fife described a potential ‘pay-to-participate? program beginning in the 2004-2005 school year.
The preliminary proposal is to charge a one-time annual fee of $200 per high school student and $150 per middle school student to participate in interscholastic sports.
(School administrators prefer ‘pay-to-participate? over ‘pay-to-play? because of the implication of guaranteed playing time, but several continued to use the more common term in their discussion.)
Fife said he and his staff considered other budget cutting options, including elimination of most-recently-added, non-revenue-producing or all freshman sports. His proposal is the option ‘with the least impact on all our athletes,? he said.
The one-time fee would allow students to participate in multiple sports, and Fife said coaches could develop work programs to help students with financial challenges.
‘If we make the decisions early enough, our coaches can get busy and start a program for those athletes to work their fees so they don’t have to come up with it out of pocket,? he said.
In some trustees? minds, however, the athletic department has already been hit hard in three previous years of district budget cuts.
‘Athletics is the first one to get hit,? Trustee Mary Ellen McLean said. ‘It’s just tradition, because people view that program as something that is extra. The impact that atheltics have on a very significant portion of our kids is immeasurable.?
Officials said roughly one-third of Clarkston High School’s students are athletes.
McLean and others noted ongoing fundraisers for individual sports, booster activity and out-of-pocket parent expenses.
‘I don’t mind contributing to supporting the athletic program,? she said. ‘My fear is, we’re going to have a pay-to-play fee and then, oh by the way, we want another $45 and don’t forget about the bottle drive and we have to sell some steaks. I think that’s going to have a backlash.?
Trustee Tony Miller suggested a general student activity fee, noting other extracurricular activities carrying additional expenses.
‘Are there other groups out there [who could help] so the cost [to athletes] could be cut down?? Miller asked.
John Diliegghio, executive director for middle and high school education, said some extracurricular activities are very short-term or have fewer expenses than others.
‘A blanket activity fee just won’t fly,? Diliegghio said. ‘They’re not as labor-intensive as athletics.?
Board President Karen Foyteck said the district tried such a fee in the past.
‘I have to tell you, it was a nightmare,? she said.
Part of the problem with the athletic budget, Fife admitted, is the large percentage of money going to salaries. He saw a report last year reporting Clarkston to have one of oldest coaching staffs, ‘and I think that’s a good thing.?
‘That’s why we have five teams in the top 10 of the state,? Miller said.
Fife said the athletic program has survived budget cuts with success because of the passion and extra time put in by those coaches.
‘Every coach in every program wants to be the best, wants the kids to be the best and wants the best for them,? Fife said. ‘If I had more [money] than I needed, I know there would be coaches who want more.?
‘We haven’t purchased equipment in a long time,? Miller said. ‘The pay-to-play is just going to keep things at the status quo. There are some other costs we need to start thinking about, like equipment.?
Nonetheless, McLean called for a more unified system of accounting for athletic costs.
‘I’m not convinced the athletic budget is true in the overall expense ratio, because you don’t have the consideration of what the parents contribute,? she said. ‘I have a child in athletics, and I buy basic core things [like shorts for volleyball]. They’re not frivolous.?
‘I think we have a good handle on our budget,? Fife countered.
‘I think what you’re getting at is, instead of all these miscellaneous things, let’s figure out what it really is and do it for real,? board Secretary Stephen Hyer said in response to McLean’s comments.
Trustee Sheila Hughes said it is fair to ask parents to foot part of the bill for their children’s equipment, just as other parents buy musical instruments for their children.
‘You’re going to give that child an extra elbow pad, even if you have to go out and buy it. That is a parent priority,? Hughes said. ‘If you’re going to drive that child into that sport or direct them that way, you’re going to provide that protection for that child. It comes down to what the parent wants their child to have and what they want their child to be involved in.?
Fife also gave credit to the athletic boosters for their faithful assistance. While they were formed to help with ‘some of the extras,? he said, ‘They’re now moving over to help take care of the basics.?
‘The fund-raising is still going to have to happen? to get beyond the status quo, Miller said.
Superintendent Al Roberts said there are other ways to seek financial support for athletics, including a decision last year to allow commercial sponsorship banners on ballfields. Staff could consider additional ads on scoreboards, but some businesses do not like the current school policy of limiting such ads to no more than 10 percent of the sign.
Roberts said the concern is to avoid ‘commercializing the school so much.?
Roberts agreed that the staff should, ‘look at what the costs really are and come up with a systematic way to deal with it.?
Deputy Superintendent Dave Reschke said the district has cut in other areas, not just athletics, over the past few years, and that the pay-to-participate plan is to protect continuity of all school sports.
‘We see pay-to-play as a temporary plan,? Reschke said. ‘Our goal is not to reduce athletics.?
Fife said he would meet with his coaches and come back to the board with a more cohesive budget and fundraising plan.