Announcements

In The News

WI: Sports could be cut from school districts to save money

17-Mar-2011  WEAU TV, WEAU.com, Eau Claire, WI

Whether it's catching a touchdown under the lights or scoring a goal in hockey, there are a lot of sports offered for students. However with the state budget crunch, some districts could look at cutting athletic programs.

For many high school students rushing into the end zone or draining a three can be exciting and local booster clubs say activates outside of school, like sports and music, are an extension of the classroom.

“I feel if those activities were not so important why on a job resume or college application why do they ask about those references or those interests because we all know it builds character, responsibility and commitment," says President of the Chippewa Falls Booster Club, Roland Shaurette.

He says the group helps raise tens of thousands of dollars each year to make sure all of the school's teams can take to the field.

“All of the equipment, helmets, basketballs, footballs, softballs, that's the stuff the booster club can take care of. That's stuff that we don't have to dip into the athletic department budget so they can take the costs to coaches and stuff like that," says Shaurette.

President of the Chippewa Falls School Board, Larry Sommerfeld, says he agrees sports and other extracurricular activities helps kids down the road, help keep grades up and to keep them out of trouble but he says cuts are something many districts will have to make this year.

"We're going to have to examine everything this year to balance our budget," says Sommerfeld.

Eau Claire Superintendent, Dr. Ron Heilmann, says his district's budgets for all high school sports is a little more than one million dollars. He says cutting all of the sports wouldn't fix Eau Claire's $8.8-million short fall that it's looking at.

Sommerfeld says Chippewa Falls was surprised by the governor's budget.

"Tonight we're looking at the staffing plan we were not expecting the massive cuts that the governor proposed we have to look at that plan and see what we need to do to balance our budget," says Sommerfeld.

He says overall, sports and other activities only make up about one percent of Chippewa's total budget and he says some of the activities, like sports, help generate revenue for the district.

"The booster club doesn't have any say or involvement of what sport stays and what goes that all goes through the school board but any cost we can offset we feel will help that," says Shaurette.

Shaurette says Chippewa Falls has kept student fees down during the past few years to about $20 for one sport. Dr. Heilmann says Eau Claire had to raise student fees. He says it costs families anywhere from $100 to $400 for a sport.

Comment

Was this helpful?
No Very

Do you have feedback? (Optional)

Name (Optional)

Website (Optional)

Email Address (Optional)

Enter Word Verification in box below •