Budget cuts were expected
Lee County schools experienced budget cuts this year and more could be on the way for 2009-10, this time having a greater impact on athletics.
On Wednesday, the Florida High School Athletic Association released a proposal that would reduce the maximum number of athletic contests, pending approval from the Board of Directors at its April Meeting.
The maximum number of contests would be reduced by 20 percent for all varsity sports (except football) and 40 percent for all sub-varsity sports (except football).
Mariner Athletic Director Vito Mennona said he became aware of the plan in January. Transportation and officiating costs are among the two main areas that have become too expensive, he said.
The plan would significantly impact junior varsity sports, limit the number of out-of-town tournaments and force schools to focus more on scheduling teams in the immediate area.
The statewide economic crisis impacted Lee County during the current academic year, but it’s a sign that school districts are still trying to adjust.
“They were minor compared to what’s coming,” Mennona said. “It’s a call for us all to be creative and come up with a solution to help accomplish our mission.”
“Things have changed a lot,” added Mennona, who is in his 15th year at Mariner. “We’re in the business of making adjustments. We have some pretty good people in Lee County who will work hard to produce the best possible solutions.”
Schools are also finding it difficult to make revenue when hosting athletic contests, other than football, or when facing non-rivals.
“Unless you have tremendous crowds it’s not a profitable thing,” Cape High Athletic Director Bob Plageman said. “When Bishop Verot and Fort Myers are playing (basketball) that’s almost like a football gate. Same when Cape and Mariner or Cape and Ida Baker play, those are positives.”
Ida Baker boys’ basketball coach Greg Coleman said the situation has its pros and cons.
On one hand, it doesn’t leave many games for teams to schedule after playing a full district slate and a few holiday tournaments. Coleman thinks it should be better for the kids if they’re only playing two games per week.
“I think you have to look at the positive for each situation,” he said. “The three-game weeks take a lot out of you.”
If the proposal is approved, no changes will be made to varsity football. The regular season will continue to be 10 games, though the maximum number of junior varsity games is six.
Baseball goes from the current 25 games to 20 varsity and 15 junior varsity. Those numbers are the same for softball, basketball and soccer.
This is only the maximum number of games based on state cuts. Local budget cuts could result in a fewer number of games, Mennona said.
Cape Coral and Mariner were separated when the district reclassification for football was announced in December, but many Cape area teams have been placed in the same district in other sports.
According to the new district assignments, effective for 2009-10, Lemon Bay will compete in the 10-team District 4A-11 with nine Lee County schools – Cape, Mariner, Ida Baker, North Fort Myers, Cypress Lake, Estero, Fort Myers, Riverdale and South Fort Myers – in soccer, volleyball and basketball.
Island Coast and Bishop Verot are members of District 3A-12 along with Dunbar, Gateway Charter and LaBelle.