High school sports: Budget cuts hit St. George

ST. GEORGE — After contemplating cutting all freshman and sophomore athletic programs in Washington County high schools, the school board decided to cut funding to all athletic programs and ask the community to help schools make up the shortfall.

Instead of slashing entire programs, the board voted Tuesday to eliminate some of the funding given to high schools for athletic programs.

The board believes it will save about $120,000 by eliminating a $15,000 payment from the district to every high school that was used to pay for various aspects of all athletic programs.

Also, some equipment reimbursements were eliminated, although that number will vary from school to school, depending on whether or not it has freshman football. In addition, six paid coaching positions (at $1,200 each) were cut from each school and, finally, activity fees (the cost students pay to play sports) will go from $70 to $85.

"We just have to increase attendance, improve our gates, and the booster clubs will have to step up," said board member Wes Christiansen. "People will have to help out."

That's because every school is now trying to maintain the same programs with at least a $15,000 shortfall.

Craig Hammer, the executive director of secondary schools, said the compromise was worked out late last week after a meeting with the district's athletic directors and principals.

"It's just a very tough situation," said Hammer. "Nobody wants to cut anything. The board came up with a great option after we met with the coaches and athletic directors, and I know the community will stand behind it."

Both Hammer and Christiansen said the communities that support the district's high schools will be called upon to help make up the budget shortfalls.

"I have great faith in the community," said Hammer. "The parents have always stepped up."

Christiansen said at least one business had already volunteered to help out in what has become a very painful economic crisis for school districts across the state. Travis Christiansen, Wes' son and another member of the school board, said as tough as this latest rounds of budget cuts were, it could have been worse.

"We could have been in the position of having to find another $4 million to cut," he said. "We wouldn't have been able to save the programs if that were the case. It would have just been brutal. It is thanks to the foresight of our budget people."