Republic School Board members recently authorized implementation of several measures designed to keep sports programs while cutting costs.
     “This year the amount budgeted for sports - based on coaches’ and bus drivers’ wages, diesel and gas prices, and mileage - is $155,000,” said Teena McDonald, superintendent. The levy amount collected for sports is $124,910.”
     The board adopted suggestions from coaches and the athletic director to begin bringing the costs more in line with revenue the district receives for the sports program.
     Topping the list is to eliminate the pep band position.
     “It is hoped there will be music booster parents who will help organize the band for the home games,” McDonald said.
     The second suggestion includes a fuel surcharge for athletes riding buses to away games. Diesel prices, when the last levy was approved by voters, were around $1.79 a gallon. Now prices are close to $5 per gallon.
     Athletes will be asked to pay $5 per away trip. The surcharge for the football season will be $15 per athlete. If the athlete’s family qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, the fuel surcharge will be $2.50 per away trip, according to McDonald’s announcement.
     Another measure adopted by the board is to invite parents to ride the bus since for some sports, the team does not fill up the bus.
     “Inviting parents to ride for a fee could help both the parents, and the school and the athletes,” according to McDonald. “The fee will help offset fuel costs, the parents will save money by riding the bus, and the athletes may get more fans at away games.”
     Parents also will be allowed to transport their own child in some situations. An example was given by a coach who explained that often parents travel to weekend tournaments and transport their own children home, according to the announcement.
     That often leaves the bus nearly empty on the return trip. Parents will be allowed to take their child to the event, turn them over to the coach during the event, and sign their child out at the end of the event.
     “This will allow the school to use a less costly van to transport the rest of the team,” said McDonald. “This will be allowed as long as no student rides with someone other than a family member.”
     The last suggestion approved was to use two vans instead of a bus for teams of eight to 13 participants. By using two vans, driven by a coach and a bus driver, the district will save on fuel costs.
     “The bus driver’s union graciously agreed for this year to write language to allow this to happen,” McDonald said.
     The five measures are predicted to save about $13,000. That still leaves $8,000-$16,000 to raise or save to cover increased costs. The board looked at ways to have teams reduce their travel schedule, but decided to allow the coaches and athletic director to work to determine additional ways to save money, according to McDonald.
     The cross country team will work to help support its new program this fall. Coaches also are looking at some type of group fund-raiser to help offset the shortfall.
     In other recent business, the board:
     • Heard updates on locker refurbishment and the fence around the bus garage, both paid for from the capital improvements fund. The fund may be used only for long-term facility upgrades.
     • Learned the district made adequate yearly progress in all grade levels and all areas this year. AYP is a measuring tool under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
     • Heard a report from principal Shawn Anderson on Navigation 101 and the senior culminating project. Navigation 101 is a program in which students from sixth to 12th grades build a portfolio that includes their best schoolwork, career interest work and their assessments.
     Seniors still will give a presentation, and the rigor of the program is still there, said school officials. Students will receive one-quarter of a credit each year of their high school career as they complete their portfolio projecta.
     The culminating project is more a celebration and sharing of the successes students have had in their high school career, ending with their fifth year and beyond plan that will be shared with an audience, according to the announcement.