Effects of a Struggling Economy on High School Sports Jason Boyd

Standards Addressed Standard 3.0 oSpecifically: deploy financial and human resources to promote student achievement Standard 4.0 oSpecifically: …mobilizing community resources Standard 6.0 oSpecifically: describe economic factors and their effects on the school Standard 3.0 oSpecifically: deploy financial and human resources to promote student achievement Standard 4.0 oSpecifically: …mobilizing community resources Standard 6.0 oSpecifically: describe economic factors and their effects on the school

Athletics Cut Unproportionally One example from Edmonds, WA oAthletic budget accounts for approximately 1% of district budget, yet athletic cuts totaled more than 5% of the district’s overall cuts One example from Edmonds, WA oAthletic budget accounts for approximately 1% of district budget, yet athletic cuts totaled more than 5% of the district’s overall cuts

Athletic Cuts Lower level teams like JV, sophomore, or freshman are being cut in some areas of the country The number of assistant coaches for teams are being cut Funding for high school sports are being cut and in some cases eliminated all together Lower level teams like JV, sophomore, or freshman are being cut in some areas of the country The number of assistant coaches for teams are being cut Funding for high school sports are being cut and in some cases eliminated all together

Specific Examples of Cuts Kern High School in CA oCut JV sports Mount Vernon, NY oEliminated funding for high school sports South Umpqua High in Oregon oEliminated stipends for JV coaches Kern High School in CA oCut JV sports Mount Vernon, NY oEliminated funding for high school sports South Umpqua High in Oregon oEliminated stipends for JV coaches

Transportation Cuts St. Lucie County in Florida oFootball team can travel no more than 75 miles for away games oSliced their regular season football schedules to nine games St. Lucie County in Florida oFootball team can travel no more than 75 miles for away games oSliced their regular season football schedules to nine games

User Fees to Offset Transportation Costs 27 schools in Boston charge athletes to play sports ranging from $75 per sport to $250 per sport Brainerd, MN was forced to charge $380 per child in activity fees after the district eliminated funding In Lakeville, MN a failed tax levy forced a mid-year activity fee hike from $90 to $ schools in Boston charge athletes to play sports ranging from $75 per sport to $250 per sport Brainerd, MN was forced to charge $380 per child in activity fees after the district eliminated funding In Lakeville, MN a failed tax levy forced a mid-year activity fee hike from $90 to $230

Effects of cuts in amount of teams and increases in fees Both result in less students participating in extra-curricular activities Sports help occupy students time and build their character - without them coaches are concerned students will get into trouble and may even stop going to school all together Research suggests student athletes do better in school when compared to non- student athletes Both result in less students participating in extra-curricular activities Sports help occupy students time and build their character - without them coaches are concerned students will get into trouble and may even stop going to school all together Research suggests student athletes do better in school when compared to non- student athletes

Alternatives to Cuts and Fees Increase fundraising Extend the use of uniforms Schedule more games closer to home Increase fundraising Extend the use of uniforms Schedule more games closer to home