After years of looking towards school sports for potential budget reductions, district leaders are proposing to increase overall funding to athletic programming. Len Kies, athletic director for Bethlehem Central School District, presented his department’s proposed budget for next school year to school board members Wednesday, March 4. The rollover budget totals just over $600,000, which is relatively flat, but this figure excludes transportation and athletic director and clerical salaries and benefits. Building off the baseline spending plan, Kies proposed almost $47,000 of reinstatements and $66,000 of additions. “Over the years we have had to tighten the belt … we have had to kind of draw the line with coaches when they do come asking for certain items,” said Kies. “We’ve had tremendous support from our many booster clubs,” which have raised nearly $130,000 worth of donations to the district last school year. Kies credited community support for the robust athletic opportunities available to students.
“The level of support that I’ve seen in the last year since I arrived in Bethlehem has been incredible,” said Kies. “I’m fairly longtime athletic director, I’ve never been an athletic director at a school district that has the kind of support from students, from parents, as well as from a district and Board of Education as we have here.” There are four levels of interscholastic athletics at Bethlehem Central, which include modified, freshman, Junior Varsity and Varsity. There are 15 girls and 15 boys programs, with one co-ed program, with a total of 74 teams across the school year. There are a total of 1,777 student athletes in 7-12 grade, which includes some students playing more than in that total participation figure. Several students participate in more than one sport. There are 369 students playing two sports and 111 students playing three sports. The only reduction proposed is the elimination of freshman football, which the varsity head coach recommended to strengthen the overall football program. This reduction would yield a savings of $11,400. No student athletes would be displaced, according to Kies.
“This is something we actually discussed with our football booster club as well and, really, it will strengthen our overall program,” he said. “There were many days at JV practice where we only had 15, 16 student athletes. The entire rooster floated between 19 to 21 depending on each week due to the level of injuries.” The low number had most JV football athletes playing every snap in a game, but transferring the freshman players to it will strengthen the depth of the team. The modified program would remain intact. He added the majority of area districts are leaning towards a three level football program. Recommended reinstatements include the ice hockey rink rental fee ($20,000), extended supervision at the fitness center ($12,000), fully funding the gymnastics program ($5,100), golf green fees ($3,100), bowling lane usage fee ($3,000), and reinstating one assistant coach for indoor track ($3,500). Donations have essentially covered these expenses, most received through booster clubs. Recommended additions include purchasing new uniforms ($20,000), various supplies, equipment and conferences ($20,000), athletic trainer electric golf cart ($8,000), a modified boys volleyball program ($4,000), a unified sports co-ed program ($10,500), and adding another assistant coach for indoor track ($3,500).