Will The Economy Kill HS Sports?

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Will The Economy Kill HS Sports?

by Dave Schmidt - THE SENIOR REPORTS

(3-5-10) - Below are links to stories that tell how local school systems are facing huge mountains of debt. Most of the schools below might be considered urban schools, but the "ripple-down" effect will soon include all types of public schools. Below you will see systems from 3 states - Illinois, Indiana and Ohio who know what happens when there are large short falls in the budget. Even when the voters approve the added income it takes a long time to recover.

How will you as an athletic department handle a financial crunch? More importantly how will your conference make it work when a conference member drops athletics? When a conference member drops athletics, his problems now become yours. How do you handle an open football date? Don't think it can't happen to your system, I'm sure several of these school boards would have said the same thing before this all happened.

The stories below might be beneficial to you down the road, being prepared is a plus for any school or conference.

GEORGIA

updated 5-15-10

CLICK HERE - Allatoona High football, basketball, soccer and baseball coaches fired

INDIANA

updated 6-20-10

CLICK HERE - High school football coaches deal with uncertainty

updated 6-1-10

CLICK HERE - East Allen school closings on table

updated 5-4-10

CLICK HERE - FWCS cuts $15M, closes 2 schools

updated 2-24-10

CLICK HERE - Anderson (Indiana) Community schools votes to consolidate to just one high school

Massachusetts

updated 4-16-10

CLICK HERE - Mansfield perplexed over threat to sports

updated 4-16-10

CLICK HERE - Mansfield votes to eliminate high school sports

MICHIGAN

updated 5-26-10

CLICK HERE - High school sports funding issues spur double duty

updated 3-15-10

CLICK HERE - High school closure plan rocks Detroit neighborhood

NEW JERSEY

updated 6-6-10

CLICK HERE - N.J. Tournament of Champions, individual state high school titles may be saved

updated 5-30-10

CLICK HERE - NJSIAA may do away with Tournament of Champions, individual state championships

OHIO

South-Western Schools

updated 8-30-10

CLICK HERE - About half of sports in South-Western schools see a drop in players

Lorain High School

updated 8-23-10

CLICK HERE - From Two to One

Northwest Local Schools

CLICK HERE - Northwest not eager to face consequences

updated 5-30-10

CLICK HERE - OHSAA no longer picking up tab to send athletes to state

PENNSYLVANIA

updated 8-17-10

CLICK HERE - West Perry unanimously approves salaries for coaches; some school directors promise to revisit the issue next year

West Perry Football Practice

updated 8-16-10

CLICK HERE - West Perry School District begins high school sports practices on schedule by using volunteer coaches

updated 8-15-10

CLICK HERE - Midstate school districts weigh 'pay to play' fees for athletes

Toledo Public Schools

updated 8-23-10

CLICK HERE - Toledo Public Schools struggling to fill game days after exit of nearly half of City League

updated 5-26-10

CLICK HERE - Libbey High to be closed to save money, board rules in 3-2 vote

updated 5-25-10

CLICK HERE - Proposed TPS cuts cast doubt on City League

updated 5-5-10

CLICK HERE - Toledo Public Schools income tax loses; Libbey H.S. likely to be axed

updated 4-2-10

CLICK HERE - TPS board votes to spare Libbey; fate of union concessions uncertain

updated 3-15-10

CLICK HERE - Top-rated technology school on list of cuts

updated 3-5-10

CLICK HERE - TPS looking to cut athletics to save the budget

updated 3-5-10

CLICK HERE - Toledo Public Schools proposals would end all athletics, shut Libbey

updated 3-5-10

CLICK HERE - Toledo Public Schools sports cuts are called a 'death sentence'

updated 2-22-10

CLICK HERE - Toledo Public Schools warns of 'ugly' outcome if levy fails

Urban Schools Consolidate

Report: More Ohio school consolidation needed

School consolidation is something that could effect your conference in the future. The economy could force changes, not only in urban setting, but also in rural areas. How would your conference handle this type of loss?

updated 2-24-10

CLICK HERE - Report: More school consolidation needed

CLICK HERE - Ohio urged to reduce school districts

updated 2-24-10

CLICK HERE - Board picks King site: School's name, other specifics yet to be decided

Both Lorain schools compete in the Lake Erie League

ILLINOIS

updated 8-5-10

CLICK HERE - (Illinois) Chicago Public Schools to restore non-varsity sports

CLICK HERE - (Illinois) Non-varsity sports programs saved in Chicago schools

updated 3-18-10

CLICK HERE - (Illinois) District U-46 cuts bite deep into athletics

updated 3-17-10

CLICK HERE - (Illinois) Some U-46 schools see culture destroyed by layoffs

updated 3-16-10

CLICK HERE - (Illinois) District U-46 board approves layoffs for 1,037 employees

updated 3-16-10

CLICK HERE - (Illinois) U46 board OKs massive cuts: 1,079 positions

updated 3-15-10

CLICK HERE - (Illinois) Schools debate if students should bear full cost when they pay to play

updated 3-5-10

CLICK HERE - (Illinois) CPS cuts sophomore spring sports

updated 3-3-10

CLICK HERE - (Illinois) Chicago schools cut spring sophomore sports

CLICK HERE - (Illinois) U46 potentially cutting sports

updated 12-15-09

CLICK HERE - (Illinois) South Beloit Schools may cut down on athletic volunteers

MISSOURI

updated 12-13-09

CLICK HERE - A divided Kansas City board votes 5-4 to close 26 district schools

Sidney (Ohio) HS

updated 12-13-09

CLICK HERE - Sidney School Levy Passes By 1 Vote

updated 11-17-09

CLICK HERE - Tie possible in Sidney school levy vote; recount expected

updated 11-4-09

CLICK HERE - Just 43 votes- Sidney School levy defeated again

The Ohio Capital Conference

After November Levy Passed

updated 11-8-09

CLICK HERE - South-Western City Schools - Athletic and Club Pay-to-Participate Information

updated 11-5-09

CLICK HERE - South-Western athletes can return

updated 11-4-09

below is from an email to The Senior Reports

A few statements from Dave Cecutti, Commissioner of the Ohio Capital Conference concerning the Southwestern City Schools and the passed levy:

"I know I speak for all of our member schools when I say we are thrilled that the communities in the Southwestern District have shown their support and given the student-athletes the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities now and in the future and continue to be an important part of this Conference.

The Ohio Capital Conference will fully engage the original schedules for both the winter and spring sports immediately and we look forward to helping these schools in any way we can to get back into a normal situation.

Just as that District will need to come together in the next weeks and months so to will all of our schools and administrators. It has been a difficult stretch for our schools but the strength and vision of our Conference will help us as we move forward with new and exciting initiatives for all of our 32 schools."

CLICK HERE - South-Western schools rehire winter coaches

CLICK HERE - South-Western finally gets its levy

In South-Western, unofficial results show the levy won by about 450 votes. If the results hold, it means the district will begin restoring extracurriculars and other services cut this fall.

After August Levy Failed

updated 9-17-09

CLICK HERE - from SI.com - The impact of an Ohio school district's decision to cut sports

updated 9-2-09

CLICK HERE - At some schools, budget cuts put the kibosh on sports

updated 8-29-09

CLICK HERE - South-Western City Schools students adjust to no football on Friday

CLICK HERE - Last night wasn't the same for South-Western athletes

CLICK HERE - Rob Oller commentary: Difficult to think of Grove City football in the past

CLICK HERE - High school football: Other schools gain from South-Western's loss

updated -8-5-09

from OHSAA web site-

Procedures In Place For Schools Accepting Transfers From South-Western City Schools

Aug. 5 - With the failure of the South-Western City Schools levy and the district's decision to eliminate its entire athletic program, eligibility will be granted to those South-Western City School District students who transfer to another member school per exception 11 to Bylaw 4-7-2 Transfer, PROVIDED

The receiving member school requests an eligibility ruling in writing from the OHSAA

The written request for an eligibility ruling contains the following information:

1.      Student's Name
2.      Student's Grade Level
3.      Sending School
4.      Sports in which the Students Participated for the 2008-09 School Year

Please note that students requesting to be eligible at their new school must meet the scholarship requirement and all other applicable bylaws.

Written requests from school officials must be on school letterhead and faxed to 614-267-1677. An OHSAA administrator will respond to each request as quickly as possible.

Please note that the students who transfer pursuant to exception 11 are not eligible until declared eligible by the Commissioner’s office. It should also be noted that any student transferring eligibility pursuant to this exception will not be able to take advantage of exception 6 (transfer into residential district) of this Bylaw at any time after the transfer becomes effective.

updated 8-9-09

CLICK HERE - Guidance for Member Schools Regarding Districts That Have Completely Discontinued Interscholastic Sports Programs

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