School sports saved, but cuts are deep

After several weeks in which it flirted with eliminating all high and middle school sports funding, the Sisters School Board has settled on the middle road.

On June 19, the five-member board decided to sever all middle school sports support. High school sports, however, will take less of a hit: 25 percent, or $40,500 will be cut.

In making the decision, the board chose to let high school program and teaching reductions take effect in language arts, media, special education, health and physical education, industrial arts, and home economics programs.

Superintendent Steve Swisher, underlining the difficulty of the decision, said earlier that he had heard different parents say they would consider removing children if sports were eliminated or if educational programs were significantly cut.

Swisher supported the final budget, saying the board's approach to meeting the $320,000 biennial budget shortfall "maintains a balanced system." The board approved the 2000-2001 general fund budget in the amount of $6,749,934, a decrease mandated by this year's funding shortfall of approximately $117,000.

The cuts will have an impact on athletic fees. Pay-to-play at the high school will be on a $75 per sport basis. Unlike the current system, fees will not have a cap. For instance, students who play five sports will have to pay $375.

Noting the possible hardship this new system would cause some families, board member Glen Lasken successfully proposed the board earmark $3,000 ( from a general contingency fund ) for sports scholarships, based on need.

To replace its funding of middle school sports, the board also set aside $15,000 to contract with Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation (SOAR). Though the contract isn't signed, and consequently SOAR has not set fees, board members anticipated approximately a $50 per sport pay-to-play fee.

When asked if the overall cost of the program would lessen under SOAR, School Superintendent Steve Swisher said "probably not...honestly, it's another example of forced cost-shifting to parents."

Realizing that the SOAR allocation left a large funding gap to fill, even with the anticipated participant fees, board members noted that Sisters service organizations, such as the Kiwanis and Rotary Club, have been very supportive in the past. "I see no reason for that to change," added Swisher smiling. Swisher is the current Rotary president.

Under the final budget adopted Monday, cross country, wrestling, swimming, skiing, tennis and golf will lose all funding at the high school and will depend wholly upon community support. However, football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, soccer, and track will continue with minimal cuts in two programs.

The board will next meet Monday, June 26 at 7 p.m.