TCAPS athletic funding at risk
TRAVERSE CITY -- The region's largest school district says a "worse case scenario" budget plan may mean slashing it's entire athletic budget. This would force students and families to pay for school sports.
Traverse City Area Public School administrators who propose $9 million in reductions say the measure would keep the district in the black.
Superintendent Steve Cousins says, "My life was changed by a high school coach, so we're not talking about things we don't value, we are just trying to cut far away from teaching and learning."
The idea isn't sitting well with Traverse City West High School Athletic Director Patti Tibaldi who says the proposal is a punch in the gut. While she knew cuts were coming, she says she didn't know sports would be targeted.
Tibaldi says, "The court, the field, they are classrooms. I believe educational athletics is on of the only places we address leadership competitiveness responsibility teamwork tolerance and communication."
The district is meeting Wednesday night to go over the options in detail, they haven't ruled out eliminating some sports programs entirely.
