District Athletic Program
May 22, 2009
At last night’s Governing Board meeting, the
Board acted to approve our Third Interim report
as required when a district has a Qualified or Negative budget
certification at either the First or Second Interim. While our budget
situation for 2008-09 is sound due to the significant and painful cuts
and reductions we have already made, the upcoming reductions that
Sacramento will impose upon us immediately push us into
deep deficit spending for both
2009-10 and 2010-11 without further
adjustments. In reviewing the multi-year projections that are part of an
interim report, the discussion with the Board included an examination of
both revenues and expenditures. As previously developed, our multi-year
projections included a decrease in revenue
of over $550,000 due to the
estimated loss of 100 students
in grades 7-12 as a result of the elimination of
the District athletic program. In other words,
cutting sports is projected to cut deeply into our
revenue. In my budget reduction
recommendations made that the Board approved in February, I identified a
savings of $243,000 that would be achieved by eliminating sports.
It is evident at this time that
the potential savings
would be
erased by the loss of revenue
tied to the decline in enrollment.
As a result of this
conclusion, the Board adopted
the Third Interim
without the budget
assumption of having no sports
at the 7-12 level.
In short, the Board has
given the Administration the direction to
reinstate the
athletic program with
certain provisions.
Specifically, the direction
was given to
re-establish
one release period
for the Athletic Director
and to
restore the clerical time
to support athletics.
Additionally, we will be
identifying other costs
which are
essential components
of running the athletic program.
These include, but are not
limited to,
state, section, and
league dues;
officials;
medical supplies
and services;
safety equipment;
and other expenses
related to the overall
operation of an athletic program.
Stipends for
coaching positions and
funds for specific
program needs
(uniforms, non-safety
equipment, entry fees, etc.)
will
not be included
in the District’s expenditures on athletics.
Stipends will not
be paid and
fund-raising for them will not be
allowed.
Fund-raising by
sport-specific boosters
will be necessary
to meet basic needs for each
sport and
the newly formed
Dixon Sports Boosters
will continue
to support the overall
program through its activities.
The Board and the District
Administration realize that,
for many of you, this
decision will be viewed negatively.
As with our earlier considerations of closing a
school, moving Maine Prairie, eliminating the Independent Study program,
and other ideas, the numbers just did not add up to continue the
direction that we had previously undertaken. While
some may suggest that
we are saying sports are more important
than other areas that have been subject to
cuts or reductions, the reality is that at this time,
restoring sports makes financial sense.
We have many more difficult days ahead of us with many more difficult
decisions to make. I encourage you to continue to give input and
feedback as we work to keep the District fiscally sound and the best
place possible for our students in such trying conditions.
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