Amid all of the bad news related to finances in the Cotati-Rohnert Park school district recently, the conversation about reinstating middle school sports is set to begin at the regular school board meeting tonight.
While only a discussion item and far from a done deal, the move marks a significant patch of sunlight in what has been a near endless barrage of gloom over the finances of Sonoma County’s third largest school district.
A brief breakdown of approximate expenses associated with middle school sports was compiled by district officials:
Athletic director stipend: $5,239
The district would expect to spend $2,365 per coach, per grade, per sport for seventh and eighth grade girls basketball and volleyball for a total fall sports cost of $9,460.
Coach: $2,365 x 2 for both seventh and eighth grade teams
League dues: $80
Referee fees: $1,260
Equipment: $600
Uniforms (first year expenditure: 24 uniforms at $60 each): $2,400
Total cost for seventh and eighth basketball (two teams):First year $9,070; Annual: $6,970
For seventh and eighth grade girls volleyball
Coach: $2,365 x 2 for both seventh and eighth grade teams
League dues: $80
Referee fees: $700
Equipment: $500
Uniforms (first year expenditure: 24 uniforms at $60 each): $1,440
Total cost for seventh and eighth grade volleyball (two teams): First year: $7,520; Annual: $6,260
Estimated ongoing cost for fall sports (for 40-42 athletes) excluding transportation and including one-third of the athletic director cost: $15,000
For seventh and eighth grade boys basketball in the winter:
Coach: $2,365 x 2 for two teams
League dues: $80
Referee fees: $1,050
Tournament fees (est): $300
Equipment: $600
Uniforms (first year expenditure: 24 uniforms at $100 each) $2,400
For co-ed seventh and eighth grade wrestling
Coach: $2,365 x 2 for two teams
League dues: $80
Referee fees: $450
Singlets: $75
Tournament fees: $300
Estimated ongoing cost for winter sports (for 40-52 athletes) excluding transportation: $14,440
For seventh and eighth grade track
Coach: $6,150 (for two head coaches and one assistant coach for two teams)
League dues: $80
Ribbons: $200
Uniforms (first year expense, 100 uniforms at $40 a piece): $4,000
Estimated ongoing cost for spring sports (for 80-100 athletes) excluding transportation: $10,430 (note: the district’s total for this number is: $8,180).
The annual cost of middle school athletics, excluding transportation: $37,600.
The most recent transportation fee was $37.50 per student per sport.
The total cost of transportation is estimated to be $5,370.
Also included in the board report is a summary of funds available through booster groups at both the now-closed Mountain Shadows Middle and the being-renamed-Creekside Middle (which is now Lawrence E. Jones Middle School). Funds available from these groups is reportedly nearly $28,000.
The same total is anticipated for boys basketball (seventh and eighth grade) as well as co-ed seventh and eighth grade wresting.
The school board meets in public session at 7 p.m. a Presentation Hall at Creekside Middle School, 5154 Snyder Lane.