CMS MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS BACK ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK

When  I was a little boy, my Grandmother had an expression that remains so vivid in my mind that I can hear it today.  She would say “you could hear that train coming a mile away.”  This was usually said in reference to something that was so predictable that no one could miss it.

Unfortunately that statement rings true today as Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman has placed Middle School Sports and its '  1.2 – 1.3 million dollar budget right back on the chopping block from last year.   The shame of the matter is that we have had many months to secure the future of Middle School Sports and chose not to.

Last August when it was announced just weeks before the start of the Fall sports season that Middle School Sports would live another day, I published an editorial on urging Dr. Gorman and the Board of Education to consider a couple of ideas I had to fund this line item.  Like my previous emails and interview requests I had made with the Superintendent’s office on the matter, my thoughts basically went unanswered and my promised interview was never given.

To call again on another old expression, “you can’t do anything about spilled milk ,"  so let’s fast forward to today and address a few very easy solutions to retaining Middle School Sports.  It’s important to note that Dr. Gorman will move on at some point to a new opportunity, but we, the resident’s of this community will remain the one’s affected by decisions made under his leadership.  We continue today to deal with poor decisions made by other leaders that moved on to other school districts. We must answer the call and always stand up for what we believe in.  We must protect positive programs for the future of our kids and our kids, kids.

First off I am a big believer in all sports, middle and high school need to be self funded.  Athletics should not be free, nor should drama, band, chorus, art, music or any other extra curricular activity.  If you want to play, you need to pay.  If you choose to play at a local recreation association, or take singing lessons or play in a band, there are costs involved.  How you raise those costs is up to each person or group, but the money should not simply be handed over.

I offer three options that have had great success in other communities.

1.     Raise the money from admission fees.  Two revenue producing options here.  Add $1.00 to the admission price for high school football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball, lacrosse and track events at every high school in the CMS system.  This dollar is set aside to Middle School Sports. A huge majority of the students playing these sports participated in middle school sports.  Consider it an opportunity to support something that provided a building block for your future.  Name the program The CMS Middle School Endowment fund and secure its future forever.  To supplement this even further, there needs to be a $3.00 admission charge on middle school sports as well. 

2.     Another option that I have witnessed up close over the last four years as Publisher of The South Charlotte Sports is the operation of middle school sports by athletic booster clubs.  This is the model used in Union County for all sports except basketball and winter cheerleading which are operated by Union County Public Schools.  These booster clubs offer a wider range of sports than CMS, creating more opportunities for students.   I commend the Union County folks every time I see them on their outstanding efforts for middle school sports.  No one can seem to give me a reason why this can happen 3 miles from my home, but not here in my county.

3.     Athletic Participation Fees. Each student-athlete should pay an athletic participation fee to cover the costs of the athletic programs.   As we are all aware, athletic fees are a part of youth sports.  If you choose to play at one of our local athletic associations, there will be a fee.  Youth playing Pop Warner football will pay $250 and more to play in the area.  Baseball, basketball and soccer bring fees of $125-175 in most all cases.  You want to play, you need to pay.

I often hear the reasoning that some can’t afford to pay and that is true.  But they somehow find a way to play Pop Warner Football, Rec league basketball, Travel Baseball.  Folks of all income levels can be found traveling across the state to play in tournaments.  Booster Clubs can offer scholarship assistance, we can create other opportunities to award financial scholarships where needed.

I strongly believe in all three of these models.  I have begged over the last year to be part of the solution, part of a group that I wanted formed a year ago to study this and prevent what is happening now from happening.  I wanted to work ahead instead of waiting on this line item to land back on the chopping block.
We are fortunate in that there are some outstanding leaders, new and old, on the CMS Board of Education this year.  One of them took the time to sit down with me last month and we had a great meeting.  I commend this member for taking my admission solution in front of the board. I am told it has some traction, hopefully that is true.

I am a big believer in the need to protect your assets, especially when those assets are for children.  Middle School Sports are an asset, they provide a great after school activity for physical fitness. They provide a learning tool for the traits of teamwork, leadership, time management and communication.  Without them a large segment of middle school athletes will return to an empty house while parents are away at work.  Unsupervised time can translate into more opportunities to find negative activities.  The South Charlotte Sports Report urges Dr. Peter Gorman and the Board of Education to look at all three of these options and protect not only Middle School Sports but ALL after-school activities.
In closing, all members of the Board of Education, Dr. Gorman and his staff work extremely hard to steer the CMS ship through these choppy waters. The members of the Board of Education certainly need to be thanked for their service. The hours they must put into their positions are incredible.
I remain a phone call or an email away for any member of the Board of Education or for Dr. Gorman if he would like to hear more about how I believe  we can save this valuable asset.
Please protect Middle School Sports Dr. Gorman.

Sincerely,

Tripp Roakes