PORT TOWNSEND — The budget-driven decision to discontinue team sports at Blue Heron Middle School has a deeper impact than kids not being able to play games, the School Board was told Monday night.
“Sports programs help keep kids excited about being in school, and with more kids in school, the fiscal problems the district faces are lessened,” said Mark Grant, spokesman for a sports advocacy group called Team Port Townsend.
“Strong sustainable schools with viable programs that include quality and competitive athletic programs are a critical ingredient to the success and health of the community.”
About 60 people attended Monday’s special meeting, which was held in the high school’s common room.
The meeting was described as a “listening session” by School Board President Jennifer James-Wilson, who said at its beginning that no decisions would be made.
Several commenters stressed to the School Board the importance of athletic programs and lobbied for their support during this year’s budget process.
Grant said it was important that voters approve the school levy request in a Feb. 14 election as this would generate around $35,000 to support middle school sports.
The cost of a program ranges from $60,000 to $80,000 per year, as estimated by former Blue Heron Principal Mark Decker in a report last year.
“I support and believe everything that people have said here tonight about the benefits of sports,” said Blue Heron teacher Roger Mills.
“There is a very big difference between the projected cost of the programs and what money the district is willing to make available at the moment.
“If the district approves this, I suggest putting a cap on it so the district doesn’t have thousands of more dollars that it needs to spend on a sporting program that were unanticipated.”
Butch Marks, a Port Townsend parent and coach, said his son was denied the chance to play team sports at Blue Heron and chose to attend Chimacum Schools, which offered him that opportunity.
Marks said his son’s grades went down when he was not playing sports but went up again when he was back on the team.
“He’s excelled because he realized that he had to have good grades to play sports,” Marks said.
“I hear the story of middle school sports programs being threatened in other states, but they all seem to band together because they realize the importance of sports programs.
“You can go through school and not talk to anyone, but when you play sports, your whole social outlet grows, and it becomes a part of life.”
Marks is a member of a group called the Port Townsend Braves, which is committed to raising the money for sports programs that the district cannot provide.
One fundraising event will take place at 5 p.m. March 10 at the Port Townsend Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St.
“I know there’s a money thing, but sports is something that people stand by always,” said ninth-grader Zack Parcher, the only student to address the meeting.
“Kids are going to other schools to play sports. We need to create the opportunity here. We need to make this happen.”
Amanda Funaro, a 1996 Port Townsend High School graduate, said team sports build a sense of community and participation that will make the district more attractive to those considering moving to Port Townsend.
“Families want to settle into this community, but it becomes really hard when your kids don’t have a reason to be here,” she said.
“Families who come here in the summertime need to say, ‘Oh, my God, this is beautiful. I want to raise my family here,’ and I think school sports are a part of that.”
“This gives us an understanding of the depth of commitment by the community for sports programs,” said School Board member Bill LeMaster after the meeting.
“The budget process will end up getting more scrutiny this year.
“The community didn’t like how the board allocated funds, so when we do the next budget, there will always be a little voice reminding us that sports are important.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.