By Dave Ricci/Contributor
Ken-Ton athletes have game, but how much of a budget are they going to have is another question.
In the wake of news that there is no chance an expected $5 million in state aid will be restored, the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Board of Education is still faced with very tough decisions as it tries to hammer out a workable budget for the 2010-11 school year.
The department of physical education, health and recreation and health services was among the departments that took center stage at Tuesday’s board meeting while a budget option referred to as “Package Two” was explained.
Under the proposed budget plan — that attempts to close the gap created by diminished state aid — the department would see its budget slashed by $150,000 compared to the current year’s operating budget. While none of the 220 paid and volunteer coaches nor the 180 athletic teams in the district would be cut, the proposed plan would require staff reductions.
Along with trimming the assistant athletic director’s position from full-time to part-time, there would also be an elimination of a part-time post in the special needs area of the physical education department.
Currently employing two full-time and one part-timer, these physical education teachers are specifically trained to work with the district’s special needs children.
Ken-Ton athletes took a hit last year when the state required trimming two games from schedules in a cost-cutting measure, which resulted in a total of 232 lost games for the district’s scholastic teams. Therefore, the news of these proposed spending reductions was tough to hear for all involved.
“This is very painful for me to see,” Ken-Ton UFSD Board of Education President Melissa Brinson somberly said during the meeting as she spoke with Athletic Director Brett Banker, “…understanding how hard, I think, that I have worked with you and your department to fund athletics, to support athletics. This is very difficult and does not in any way, shape or form represent a lack of support or decrease in support. Unfortunately it’s what we’re faced with.”
Brinson and district Superintendent Mark Mondanaro both strongly opposed and voted against the state’s decision to trim the athletics schedule. Both were visibly bothered by the fact that athletics had to absorb this hit.
Noting that the board has always been very supportive, Banker explained what was asked of him to help find answers.
“To date, of the cuts that are involved none impact programming per se,” Banker said. “We’re not talking about cutting a team or reducing coaches. So that’s a good thing. I’m being asked to find other areas (where costs can be cut) such as reducing equipment costs, travel costs, conferences. Things of that sort.”
Banker noted one option where money could be saved, if the situation is right and doesn’t create a safety concern, would be to consolidate varsity and JV teams on one bus as opposed to the current practice of using two separate buses.
Banker also made a point of asking the board to carefully examine the importance of the assistant AD’s position before it makes a formal decision to trim it to part time.
