Colburn comments
When I was a fledgling reporter in the mid — 1970s, Marj Nienstedt of Antelope was the Record's most prolific and colorful community columnist of the day.
One of Marj's signature phrases was this: life gets tegis in Antelope. We never corrected the spelling — it was part of the charm of Marj's writing.
Whether tegis or tedious, that's the position the Marion-Florence USD 408 board of education finds itself in, following last week's decision to grant free admission to athletic events to parents of roster athletes.
In tossing this bone exclusively to the parents of roster athletes, the board has chosen to ignore the significant contributions of parents whose children support USD 408 athletic events in other ways.
Comments made during the board meeting suggested parents of cheerleaders and band members don't come to the games to watch and listen to their children — they come to see the games.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I know.
My daughter was a cheerleader for her school's hockey teams. Given the choice between watching hockey or synchronized swimming, I'd most often choose the latter.
But for three years, I went to every junior varsity and varsity hockey game I could, for the sole purpose of watching and supporting my daughter.
I spent more money than I care to count on uniforms, shoes, cheerleading camps, and medical bills for sprained knees and pulled muscles.
I had every bit as much invested in those sporting events as parents of the hockey players.
But in Marion, the parent of the kid who spent $80 for basketball shoes now gets in free, while the parent who spent the same amount on shoes for cheerleading doesn't. That's not right. It just isn't.
What about parents of pep band members, choir members who sing the national anthem, and team managers who work in relative anonymity? They make sacrifices so their children can contribute to athletic events, too.
I believe the board would do well to swiftly consider a more inclusive policy, one that waives admission fees for parents of any student who, by virtue of their participation in a supportive role, are required to be at athletic events.
The board action also raises financial questions, decreasing revenue without any clear plan to make up the shortfall.
For example, according to the district's own estimates, free admission for parents of football players could cost the district approximately $400 per game, $2,000 over a five-game home slate. Gate receipts for other sports will dwindle as well.
Last year the district dipped into the general fund for $3,500 to cover athletic expenses not met by revenue from gate receipts. Conservatively, that number will have to double.
Where will the funds come from? In the absence of new revenue streams, money that might have gone to something else will now have to cover the shortfall created by slashing gate receipts.
Rescinding passes for senior citizens is one offset the board is considering. I have thoughts about that as well — but I'll save those for another day.
