Middle schools could lose sports teams

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - Middle school sports are on the chopping block in Chesapeake.

Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts says the move would save the school system about $650,000. He says the problem is a lack of state funding.

"This is drastic in my opinion," Dr. Roberts said. "We should not be doing this."

Dr. Roberts proposed cutting sports from the city's 10 middle schools in next year's budget. Roberts said the school system has been fighting the inevitable for the last four years, paying for sports with different state stimulus and jobs funds.

But this year, Roberts said the money won't be there and sports might not either.

The cuts are significant.

"Primarily coaches' salaries, pay for officials, the things that cost to run a middle school sports program," Dr. Roberts said.

The plan is already resonating with families of children in the school system.

"Sports are phenomenal," said Susie Miller, a grandmother of two Chesapeake school system graduates. "You've got to give kids an interest other than school and hanging out."

Miller's granddaughters both grew up in Chesapeake schools, and played on different sports teams. She believes there is a better way to balance the budget.

"We spend so much money on things that aren't necessary," MIller said. "But you invest in your family."

And while the superintendent says cutting sports was not his first choice, he also adds cutting teachers instead, is simply not an option he is willing to explore.

"We sat around this table months ago, and started looking at things we could live with and could live without to save jobs, because we don't want to cut anymore teaching positions," Dr. Roberts said. "This was one of the options."

As part of the budget, the superintendent asked the state for approximately $9 million and the city for approximately $4 million. Those funding amounts are not set, or guaranteed.

The school board will vote on the budget, including the sports cuts, at a meeting March 11.

Dr. Roberts says the board discussed intramural leagues as a possible alternative to middle school sports.