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Middle School Sports; Who should pay, who should get paid?
Topic Started: Jul 18 2010, 10:05 PM (1,374 Views)
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Should middle school sports be cut? How much do parents pay? How much do coaches make? Who are the coaches? Should the middle schools use organized leagues? Can we use our school name if we use an organized league? If not, why not? Can we save money for our district?
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Purple Haze
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Jul 18 2010, 10:05 PM
Should middle school sports be cut? How much do parents pay? How much do coaches make? Who are the coaches? Should the middle schools use organized leagues? Can we use our school name if we use an organized league? If not, why not? Can we save money for our district?
As a parent of a middle-schooler, I certainly do not wish the sports programs to be cut. In this era of obesity, I think sports programs are warranted.

Frankly, I believe the annual fee (now is it $150?) more than pays for coach stipends. I was disappointed with the coaches last year - very little and late communication, no statistics after the meets -perhaps I am expecting too much?

Someone else my shoes? Please enlighten.
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Momof4
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I say no, don't cut sports in middle school. It is $100 at Holmes to play.

FYI, at St. Mikes, where most of the sports are excellent, the coaches are volunteers.
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On The Go
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I think sports and clubs are big ways that connect kids to school. I am worried about the possible increase in fees for both Middle School and High School.
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Purple Haze
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Purple Haze
Jul 19 2010, 02:43 PM
Administrator
Jul 18 2010, 10:05 PM
Should middle school sports be cut? How much do parents pay? How much do coaches make? Who are the coaches? Should the middle schools use organized leagues? Can we use our school name if we use an organized league? If not, why not? Can we save money for our district?
As a parent of a middle-schooler, I certainly do not wish the sports programs to be cut. In this era of obesity, I think sports programs are warranted.

Frankly, I believe the annual fee (now is it $150?) more than pays for coach stipends. I was disappointed with the coaches last year - very little and late communication, no statistics after the meets -perhaps I am expecting too much?

Someone else my shoes? Please enlighten.
Mom, I'm seeing $150 for Frost, and $100 for the other middle schools -what's with that?
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Momof4
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I asked my husband... he may not remember correctly. I'm sure all the Middle Schools are the same!
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For4
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Middle school flag football and girl's softball was cut due to the budget. All three middle schools will have $150/year play to pay fee.

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daytripper75
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At risk of sounding like an old fogey...
We didn't have middle school sports when I was that age and we all turned out fine. I'd rather see extracurriculars go than the arts.
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Mrs.M
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Obviously the school sports program as a whole is operating at a deficit. I know some BOE members believe sports is the only thing that keeps some kids in school - Others believe kids won't attend school if a bus doesn't pick them up, both beliefs are troubling.

Even at 150. that's a deal for kids who participate in more than one sport. Individual and private clubs charge a whole lot more than that - just for ONE sport. They also have the fundraising, be it neighborhood bottle drives or $1.00 candy bars etc.

I believe the private/travel/individual sports teams charge enough to cover the cost and expenses of the program; even the coaches' kids pay. And as someone else commented, those coaches do so because they enjoy coaching. I wonder how many of the secondary teachers would still coach if they weren't paid for coaching.

Determine which sports are not breaking even and charge more for them. Track shouldn't be in deficit territory, the schools have a hundred or so kids on the track and field teams.

How many kids in the district are in the no pay group? The district should have a specific accounting of that number of students.
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Sage
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How many kids in the district are in the no pay group? The district should have a specific accounting of that number of students.



No pay group?
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Mrs.M
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Jul 20 2010, 07:45 PM

How many kids in the district are in the no pay group? The district should have a specific accounting of that number of students.



No pay group?
No pay group = Those students whose fee is waived for 'financial reasons' or special circumstances etc.
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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IDK
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Mrs.M
Jul 20 2010, 08:26 PM
Sage
Jul 20 2010, 07:45 PM

How many kids in the district are in the no pay group? The district should have a specific accounting of that number of students.



No pay group?
No pay group = Those students whose fee is waived for 'financial reasons' or special circumstances etc.
Family income that qualifies for "free lunch" often qualifies students for free field trips and sports. Often this cost may be picked up by PTA or Booster Clubs as a courtesy.
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crazy_cat
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daytripper75
Jul 20 2010, 06:03 PM
At risk of sounding like an old fogey...
We didn't have middle school sports when I was that age and we all turned out fine. I'd rather see extracurriculars go than the arts.
We did not have formal middle school sports either -- just after school "play for fun" type thing.
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For4
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crazy_cat
Jul 20 2010, 08:30 PM
daytripper75
Jul 20 2010, 06:03 PM
At risk of sounding like an old fogey...
We didn't have middle school sports when I was that age and we all turned out fine. I'd rather see extracurriculars go than the arts.
We did not have formal middle school sports either -- just after school "play for fun" type thing.
Really? Livonia has offered middle school sports programs for a loooong time (70's). I attended Henry Ford Jr. High (Westland/Livonia Schools) and we had formal sports playing Frost, Emerson, Holmes, Riley and a few others that closed way back when: football, cheerleading, basketball, track, volleyball and maybe others. Because Livonia has offered them for so long, I guess I took them for granted. With that said, my priorities would be that money goes to core classes first, understanding we all have to tighten our belts and do without. Beating a dead horse but can't help but say downsizing from 3 athletic directors (who are way over paid IMHO), to 2 would leave enough money to maintain the middle school sports programs.

By the way....our parents did without air conditioning, dishwashers, computers, etc. and they turned out just fine too :P
Edited by For4, Jul 20 2010, 09:28 PM.
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patriotfootball
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For4
Jul 20 2010, 09:25 PM
crazy_cat
Jul 20 2010, 08:30 PM
daytripper75
Jul 20 2010, 06:03 PM
At risk of sounding like an old fogey...
We didn't have middle school sports when I was that age and we all turned out fine. I'd rather see extracurriculars go than the arts.
We did not have formal middle school sports either -- just after school "play for fun" type thing.
Really? Livonia has offered middle school sports programs for a loooong time (70's). I attended Henry Ford Jr. High (Westland/Livonia Schools) and we had formal sports playing Frost, Emerson, Holmes, Riley and a few others that closed way back when: football, cheerleading, basketball, track, volleyball and maybe others. Because Livonia has offered them for so long, I guess I took them for granted. With that said, my priorities would be that money goes to core classes first, understanding we all have to tighten our belts and do without. Beating a dead horse but can't help but say downsizing from 3 athletic directors (who are way over paid IMHO), to 2 would leave enough money to maintain the middle school sports programs.

By the way....our parents did without air conditioning, dishwashers, computers, etc. and they turned out just fine too :P
I went to Emerson in the 80's and no middle school sports. They were cut when I entered 7th grade. We were on the free lunch plan but my parents found some way to pay for city recreation sports/teams. It seems middle school sports would come and go depending on the economy, however, now there is pay to play, I wish that had been the case when I was in middle school.
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Momof4
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At the private schools you pay per sport, not a one time fee.
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Purple Haze
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Momof4
Jul 21 2010, 08:25 AM
At the private schools you pay per sport, not a one time fee.
Mom, may I ask how much per sport?
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Mrs.M
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IDK
Jul 20 2010, 08:28 PM
Mrs.M
Jul 20 2010, 08:26 PM
Sage
Jul 20 2010, 07:45 PM

How many kids in the district are in the no pay group? The district should have a specific accounting of that number of students.
No pay group?
No pay group = Those students whose fee is waived for 'financial reasons' or special circumstances etc.
Family income that qualifies for "free lunch" often qualifies students for free field trips and sports. Often this cost may be picked up by PTA or Booster Clubs as a courtesy.
OFTEN is the operative word. The PTAs are quite generous with the disbursement of funds.
The district still should have an accounting of how many students are not paying themselves. Maybe some of the individual schools are picking up the tab for those less fortunate and for those who claim hardship.

Even with another party picking up the tab for some, I'm sure there are still fees waived for others.

The cost to run (including coaches' salary) keeps the sports programs operating in a deficit.
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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professionalmom
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Purple Haze
Jul 21 2010, 08:30 AM
Momof4
Jul 21 2010, 08:25 AM
At the private schools you pay per sport, not a one time fee.
Mom, may I ask how much per sport?
At St. Mike's, football costs $150 per season per child, basketball... $100 and track.... is like $50. Dpending on which sports you play you can easily spend over $300 per year. There is a multiple sibling discount that is not advertised but is honored when requested. Generally they knock off half of the cost for the second child. So for two children to play basketball it would cost $100 for the first and $50 for the second or $150 total. Each sport's cost is dependent on the facilities needed to rent, sports equipment and officiating needed. Coaches are volunteers. Hope that helps.
Edited by professionalmom, Jul 21 2010, 03:02 PM.
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Sage
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Students on the LPS Reduced Lunch program will be charged a one time fee of $150 for athletic participation.

Students on the LPS Free Lunch program will be charged a one time fee of $75 for athletic participation.

From the LPS website for HS students. Not sure about other age students.

http://www.livoniapublicschools.org/Churchill.cfm?subpage=29263
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