Wisconsin high school making $1.2 million in education cuts seeks $460K for football field.

[TheMightyFavog]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=567548

Just days before the Kettle Moraine School District's superintendent embarked this month on discussions preparing residents for $1.2 million in program cutbacks, a letter went out to some of those same residents.

Signed by a group called the Kettle Moraine Field Project Committee, the letter sought $460,000 in funding the installation of artificial turf for the football field.

If successful, Kettle Moraine High School would be the latest school in the state to perform a pricey upgrade to its athletic facilities at a time when many school districts complain they have to reduce services or are holding referendums to raise tax dollars to keep existing programs.

"I don't think the two efforts are directly in conflict," said Larry Laux, a member of the field project committee and parent of a football player. "It is a little bit awkward, I'll grant you that."

[snot]

1. We are DEVO. nt

[TheMightyFavog]

2. Here I thought artifcicial turf was bad.

Doesn't it cause more injuries?

[mduffy31]

3. They want the field turf

The same kind that they installed at Lambeau. Now if this group raises the money privately I would be cool with it, but if they want the school district to pay for it...

[Porcupine]

4. Does the prescence of an ovoid pigskin kill neurons?

Just asking? Because I can see plenty of evidence that it does from here.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Football draws crowds..

and football scholarships to brag on.

Chemistry, art, chess club... they just draw nerds.

Besides, any idjit can tell whether or not you're having a winning season, but it takes a a little more effort and a few more working synapses to see how the kids are doing at art and science fairs.

Gotta have your priorities straight, dontcha know.

[RB TexLa]

6. Of course there are times it makes the district money

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2006-09-13-southlake-carroll_x.htm?POE=SPOISVA

Making money off high school kids? Texas prep football squad a cash machine


Companies can set up kiosks in the parking lot for a fee of $500 per game. The businesses pass out fliers and sell their wares to the thousands of fans who tailgate before games.


The naming rights for the stadium, as well as the school's indoor practice facility and aquatics center, are also for sale. TITUS Sports Marketing, a firm that helped the district negotiate the national TV deals, is trying to find corporations to sign contracts with the district. Thannum said the district hopes to get a 10-year, $1 million deal for the naming rights to Dragon Stadium.

Carroll football is a lucrative business, even without corporate dollars. Athletic director Ronnie Tipps estimated that the profits from ticket sales and concessions for a home football game, often packed with standing-room-only crowds of 11,000, are between $40,000 and $45,000. Carroll also gets a cut of the gate receipts for playoff games, which often draw crowds of 30,000 or more. Metro Sports Communications pays Carroll $15,000 for regular-season radio broadcast rights and an additional $1,000 per playoff game.

Funds raised by the booster club, including profits from the Dragon Den and an annual golf tournament, are poured back into the athletic department. Luna said the booster club fulfilled a $41,000 coaches' wish list last year. Everything else goes into the district's general operating fund, and the district is constantly looking for ways to increase that revenue stream.

[TheMightyFavog]

7. I've seen pictures of those texas high school facilities.

Hell, my D-III College plays in a smaller facility.

[bmbmd]

12. Not many programs across the country

can compare with South Lake Carrol High School. They never lose-something like five consecutive state championships. Kids move in from all over the state to play at SLC-making the grade as a Dragon is a sure fire invitation to a college scholarship. Wealthy district, lots of corporate support-SLC is a machine.

[ClintonTyree]

8. It's all about priorities....

what would you rather have: well educated kids or a professional looking football stadium? Come on people, I think the choice is clear. Twenty years from now will anyone remember the valedictorian of the class of '07? Probably not. But they'll have a nice shiny trophy in the trophy case reminding everyone of that winning '06 football season. Yessir! Gotta get your priorities straight. :sarcasm:

[NoQuarter]

9. "If I only had a brainnnnn."

[panzerfaust]

10. That is what we would do here in Texas!

Damn few things more important that football.

An Edyoukajun sure ain't won.

[Red Zelda]

11. That's OK

just use the tax money for the books and sell hoagies for the football field.

[WinkyDink]

13. Why do they need books? Just drop the charade.

[Solo_in_MD]

14. If its external, I am not sure I see the problem

When my daughters were in high school, the big dog was the marching band. Nationally ranked and lead by a great staff. It made more money in fundraisers than any other activiy in the district except the tax bill. Some of hte other groups and staff resented it, and the principal pushed a share the wealth policy that was later reversed. It was a great thing for both of my kids to have been part of.

[Bigmack]

15. Watch the DVD "Idiocracy"....

It's supposed to be a comedy, but I think more and more that it's a documentary of the future.

[lectrobyte]

18. Yeah, Idiocracy rocked. This post bought to you by Brawndo.

[ComerPerro]

24. Of course, Brawndo. What would you rather drink? Water? Like in the toilet?

[redqueen]

19. Sure seems that way. n/t

[ComerPerro]

23. I'm goin out to ButtFuckers for a hamburger, then to the Time Masheen. Wanna go with?

[Initech]

28. I think I'm going to watch the next episode of OW MY BALLS!

[leftofthedial]

16. gawd bless Murka

[WI_DEM]

17. As usual some people will find funding for sports more important than

educational or cultural programs.

[TheMightyFavog]

32. Of course not!

We can't have our precious children lernin some furrin commie language, now an we? :sarcasm:

[TheMightyFavog]

20. Why don't we move towards a more European-cetrerd model?

Get schools out of the intermural sports buisness, and replace them with private clubs?

[Strawman]

21. Blame the public too, it's their stupid choice

I can't blame the team or it's boosters for wanting a field or trying to get it through private donations. It's not their fault that they can successfully raise outside funds.

But it highlights the problem of relying on private sources. That's what you get. I suspect this district has it's hands tied in terms of raising revenue. Probably by some state law passed by Republican "tax fighters." So blame the policymakers who put this district in this fiscal position even more than the private donors.

Stupid taxes. They pay for useless stuff like teaching kids how to read. If that was worth a damn they could raise that money through charity, right? :sarcasm:

[LizW]

22. Sounds familiar

The school board here just voted to spend $1.4 million on artificial turf for two football fields, one of which is only used for one varsity game a year.

My son's high school is overcrowded and has been for several years. The newer teachers don't have classrooms. Instead, they have to push all their materials and books around on carts and use rooms temporarily vacated by other teachers during their prep periods. It takes a teacher three or four years to get enough seniority to have a classroom. The school board tells us they can't build another high school because it's just too expensive. In reality, they don't want to build a new one because it would split up the football dynasty.

There's a tv series on MTV about the football team at this school. It's insane.

[TheMightyFavog]

26. Two-a-days, right?

End of Line.

[BreweryYardRat]

25. My teeth are grinding.

Stupid fucks.

[Bozita]

27. Why not a domed stadium?

unfuckingbelievable!

[TheMightyFavog]

29. They actually make them

http://www.monolithic.com/gallery/sports/indoor_stadium/index.html

[Initech]

30. Yeah, god forbid they should spend it on things like music and the arts...

PRIORITIES, PEOPLE!!!!

[TheMightyFavog]

31. Music and the arts?

Don't you know tham things are only for pansies?

:sarcasm:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

33. This kind of nonsense is the REAL reason why American students lag behind

NOT teachers' unions
NOT lack of prayer
NOT the presence of dark-skinned kids or kids who don't speak English at home

It's sports-addled communities who lionize the young athletes, put their kids into outside sports year-round, refer to the academically gifted kids as nerds, and scold their own kids for "reading too much."