Advertisement Some speakers called for better budgeting. Some called for the hiring of a grant writer. Others called for a referendum. Almost all called for greater financial support from the district for co-curricular activities.
The district spends 1.4 percent of its budget on co-curricular activities. That allocation finances only 68 percent of programs, funding some totally while funding others only partially. The other 32 percent of programs receive no funding and parents and students must conduct fundraising to pay for all needs of the activity.
The district is examining whether this is fair treatment, and the purpose of Monday night’s meeting was to obtain public input on what the board’s policy should be and what to do about that policy.
If the district had fully funded all activities in 2007-08, it would have needed to allocate more than $1 million to the program, a 51 percent increase over its 2007-08 actual allocation of $678,132.
A crisis of sorts developed while budgeting for the 2008-09 year when a shortfall occurred in the activity department’s transportation expenses for the year. While that was largely due to skyrocketing fuel costs, recent declines in gas prices have not answered the question of how to fund activities fairly.
The board formed a committee to study funding options which reported its recommendations to the board in August.
About 40 people attended Monday night’s meeting and 15 speakers outlined problems with funding and problems with some of the recommendations. Most of the speakers included parents with students in sports or activities, coaches, teachers and advisors and students.
All agreed on one thing: Activities Director Linzi Gronning deserved recognition for her hard work creatively finding solutions for money shortages and did not deserve to be hamstrung by budget limitations.
“I just want to tell you I think Linzi Gronning does an outstanding job,” said Deb Braatz, a seventh-grade science teacher and a parent of three children in the district. “She is there for us as staff, advisors, parents and kids. Please don’t tie her hands.”
Most of the speakers were shocked to discover that gate receipts went back into the general school budget, not to the activities budget. “I am appalled that the fees weren’t going back into the program,” Braatz said.
Several speakers called for a referendum. Chris Sepich, a coach of many sports over 18 years, reminded the board that every U.S. president participated in co-curricular activities. “Have a referendum,” he said. “If it’s important, we should pass it.”
Most of the speakers requested additional funding from the school district. Karen Rooney, a show choir advisor but speaking as a parent, described years of fundraising and bake sales for show choir.
To make her point about never-ending fundraising, she attempted to sell board members some tickets. “Show choir parents raise $60,000 a year. Parents put in over $500 a year. Don’t forget about the programs that haven’t been funded. We’re begging. And I have lasagna tickets back there for $7.50.”
Head football coach Steve King said 75 percent of the student body was enrolled in at least one co-curricular activity, many in multiple activities. “It’s my suggestion we provide proper funding for those programs. If it is truly appropriate, the district should be funding them appropriately.”
Duane Vike, teacher and coach for the past 22 years, received a round of applause for his comments. He said that while he believed everyone was in support of co-curricular activities, the funding from the district did not reflect that belief. “We’re one of the fastest growing school districts in the state, but I do believe we have one of the lowest coaching and teaching salaries in the state.”
Lisa Risch said she and her husband moved from teaching jobs in Pepin to come to Holmen “because it’s not average.” “This district is above average in every aspect,” Risch said. “Yet we’re at 1.4 percent (funding) when the average is 1 percent to 3 percent. Our district is above average and that support should be above average.”
Karen Kuhlmann, head coach of the Holmen gymnastics team, had her team quit practice early to come to the meeting. Kuhlmann talked about the benefits of co-curriculars. “In my setting, they learn to laugh together, cry together, have an extended family and enjoy camaraderie,” Kuhlmann said. “The sport of gymnastics has brought publicity and notoriety to the district.”
She also said activities make kids motivated from within, better adjusted to school, aids retention of academic concepts and creates students likely to be lifelong learners.
Students that spoke were opposed to activity fees. A 2004 survey of District 3 schools indicated 68 percent do not charge for middle level sport programs, 77 percent did not charge for middle level activity programs, 48 percent did not charge fees for sports at the high school level and 67 percent said they did not charge for high school activity program participation.
According to findings of the board committee, of MVC schools, Onalaska charges a participation fee, either $25, $50 or $150, depending on the sport. The fees go into the district’s general fund.
“I’m just afraid that all the people that go out for sports, just the thought of having to deal with asking the school, filling out forms, would drive people away and stop a lot of students from going out,” student Wade Balkonis said.
Meagen Kelley agreed. “I know kids on free and reduced lunches and they have family difficulties. To go home to mom and say ‘mom, I need one more check,’ is hard. The amount of stress they are already under, it’s hard.”
Only one speaker, Francis Brown, was not currently affiliated with school activities. He was a proponent of everyone tightening their belts a little more. He was opposed to the district’s hiring a grant writer and to activity fees. He also thought forensics should receive as much consideration as sports.
While Brown thought having gate receipts go to activities was reasonable, it doesn’t resolve the issue. “It’s just money from one pocket to another, you still have to replace an empty pocket. Sports are good, but academics come first. Sports are necessary and good, but they’re going to have to be fundraising yet and watch their budgets.”
Board President Cheryl Hancock said the next step would be for administrative staff to take the board’s recommendations combined with the public’s input and come back with some plan. “Maybe it’s not this year or next year,” she said. “Someone said we’re spending two whole meetings on something that’s 1.4 percent of our budget. But as all of you have said, for some students, it’s everything.”
Co-curricular recommendations
The Holmen School District is considering these options for dealing with co-curricular program funding:
