Introduction: Keeping a Quality Program in a Time of Budget Cuts

Lorri Slauson, .

I’m fromChaseMiddle Schooland I have been at the Middle level for 20 plus years coaching longer and an athletic director for 9 years. At Chase we have 830 students in 2 grades, 7th and 8th.I have seen many changes as you have over the last 20 years. I have seen a huge growth in participation numbers and watched a big fall when our district cut all Sports at the Elementary level. I have spent the last four years working to get the numbers back up to where we once were, only to have my budget cut three times in three years. I have less money to do the same job as I did three years ago.

My guess is that we are all in the same boat at some level which is why you are at this session. We all get our budget from a variety of sources. There is no magic. Every person in here has already made some cuts. I will talk to you about what I have done at my school and in our League.

Our league has 8 middle schools combining two different school districts. Mead schools has 2 middle schools and Spokane schools has 6 middle schools with three being Title Schools. The goal of our League is to create the best of both worlds. A competitive Varsity experience and a J.V. experience that welcomes all levels of skill. We only cut when our facilities will not safely allow more students i.e. boys basketball and baseball.

I want you to leave here with ideas that you can truly use at your school.

What do you see as a quality program?

  • Safe Facilities
  • Safe Equipment
  • Safe Events
  • High participation numbers. My goal is as many kids as my facilities will hold. (I have only one gym).

Where do you get your working budget?

  • A.S.B. only.
  • A.S.B. and Building.
  • District Money to all Middle Schools equally.
  • ASB Fees $10.00.
  • Do you have any type of pay to play?
  • Parent Teacher Groups. (Ask for specific equipment)

Who pays for Transportation?

  • District
  • Building
  • Your budget

Who pays for Officials?

  • District
  • Building
  • Your budget

We know where our money goes, now where can we make some cuts and still have the same numbers of kids participate. That is why we do what we do;we want to get kids involved and have a positive experience in sport.

Ways to lower spending as a League.

  • Use WIAA officials for Varsity events only. J.V. Events use trained collage or high school students.
  • Use WIAA officials for all Football (we do not have), Wrestling and Baseball for maximum safety.
  • Group events together, Track Double Duels, J.V. Events (4 teams) at one location and play Round Robin, Wrestling (4 Teams) Two mats and run here matches at a time.
  • Consider moving some events to the High School Facilities.
  • Uniforms, I’m ready to start the T-Shirt/ Reversible Jersey League.

How I’m saving money in my building?

  • Equipment from the high schools (basketball & volleyballs).
  • Change in what a uniform needs to look like. (uniform replacement is my biggest purchases)
  • Student Club – students are trained to run the time clocks and keep score.
  • Let coaches from opposing teams know I use student helpers and ask them to work with us for accuracy.
  • UseHigh School students as Officials when ever safely possible. We pay $10.00 per hour for high School students who help with the following J.V. team; Volleyball, Basketball, Softball.
  • Volunteers for Time Clocks, Score Keepers, Cross Country and Track Meets.

Ways to fundraise for athletics only.

  • Parents seem to support Athletics and Band more then just a general All School Fund Raiser.
  • Staff – Student games. Put your coaches in charge. We have a Staff – Student Volleyball game. We can win and still walk the next day. Big after school event. $3.00 per ticket. (basketball)
  • Charge to attend after school games. (Our District says NO).
  • Sell a sport specific item and all profit goes to the athletic department: Synch Bags, T-shirts, Hoodies and Locks

Where did we get more money? Tell them what you have already done to cut your school budget. My Principal loves to tell Parents about our coaches and how high our participation numbers are. Let them know exactly what you need more money for. Let Parent know what you need to keep thing going at your school.

  • Principal’s Budget for extra J.V. teams in high interest areas.
  • Staff – Student volleyball game.
  • A.S.B. funds awarded by students.
  • P.T.G. Ask for Specific items. (hurdles)

Working with you’re A.S.B.

  • Our District requires Non-funded Mandates. Officials
  • Try and create a clear understanding of what are fixed costs for the Athletic Department.

Closing

  • A positive sport experience.
  • At the Middle Level I believe it is still about giving many kids their First chance to play on a sports team, allow for different levels of competition,
  • We are coaching two generations. If they leave our program with a positive experience they will encourage their children to get involved in sport.
  • My students go to a 4A high school, 20% of our girls still play after the 10th grade, boys numbers are higher. Very few kids start playing sport in high school. I’m ok getting used equipment from the high school to give my coaches more equipment for their teams.