Washoe'a proposed athletic cuts would be felt in Carson

It seems there is no way to escape the subject of budget cuts these days, no matter how hard you try. High school athletics certainly aren't immune because Washoe County has announced options being considered to help cut its $2.2 million activities budget -- options that could be felt in Carson City.

The proposals being considered for the next school year include participation fees as well as elimination of some programs and sports. This is by no means an isolated case because pay-to-play and pay-for-transportation are reality at schools elsewhere. For now, it's still in the discussion stages in Washoe County, but it's certain school officials around the state are paying close attention.

"I think it's still just a consideration and an option at this point," said Donnie Nelson, Nevada Interscholastic Activies Association Assistant Director. "I don't think they will make that decision until after the budget is determined, but I think it is one of the possibilities."

Among the possibilities announced by Washoe County School District officials are pay-to-pay, elimination of freshman and or junior varsity athletics, or the elimination of such individual sports as swimming/diving and alpine skiing.

Carson High School Athletic Ron McNutt sympathizes with the financial dilemma schools in Washoe County are facing. He also has his own feelings based on more than 30 years experience as a high school teacher and coach.

"Washoe County is in a heck of a bind. A lot is going to depend on the Legislature and what they decide in the educational scheme, which trickles down into athletics," McNutt said.

Washoe County's proposals include charging students up to $200 per sport or $325 to compete during the entire school year and a reduction in game schedules with the elimination of middle school sports. Also keep in mind that athletics are already expensive for participants when cost of equipment and such intangibles as off-season programs are factored in.

"As a coach, and I've been here for a long time, I would hate to see pay for play," McNutt said. "There might be a lot of kids you'd leave behind or leave out of programs because their families just can't afford it.

"Athletics is still part of the whole educational scheme as far as I'm concerned. There are more than a lot of kids who are in school and athletics is keeping them in school. They may not be not the best students, but athletics is keeping them off the streets and having problems, the dropouts and things like that because there's nothing there for them. The academic part might be something they won't ever really excel in but the athletic part might be. And I think it's a big, big part of a lot of kids' lives."

McNutt estimates that about half of Carson's student body is involved with extracurricular activities.

"If I had to take a guess at Carson High School, you're probably looking at probably over 1,200 kids out of a student body of 2,400 that are involved in extra curricular activities," he said. "That's athletics, band, ROTC, choir, drama, things like that have kids involved, and I think that's all part of the total package. It's not just the educational thing because not every kid is geared for college. Some are geared for a vocational type thing or something else. And there are a lot of kids, their one focus is on athletics."

Nelson expects to see the issuemet with considerable emotion.

"There are always plenty of mixed emotions on a pay to play option," he said. " I think that's one of the issues where families would have to make decisions. How many extra curricular activities will they be able to participate in. If you want to be part of band, you've got to pay for that. If you want to play one sport, you have to pay for that. If you want to play more than one sport, you're going to have to pay for that. It means different things for different individuals and different families. No one family is like another."

Carson City would definitely be affected, one way or another, should Washoe County implement any of the proposals.

"What happens in Washoe County affects Carson High School because if for some reason they drop all their freshman programs, or whatever, Carson is probably going to have to drop theirs because there will be nobody to play," McNutt said. "I don't have the answers. We have people in our school district who do a good job and they're going to make those decisions for the betterment of Carson High School or the Carson City School District itself and I just hope it's just the right one for all the kids."

Nelson echoed that.

"It's scary, let's put it that way. And this is a very scary time for all school districts," he said. "But now it's very serious and I think people within certain school districts should be prepared for it."

There's also the option for people to express their view, whether it's to the school district or the Legislature.

"More than anything, if families want their voices heard, they need to express those thoughts now. If not to the school district, they need to express it at a higher level," Nelson said.

Dave Price is a sports writer for the Nevada Appeal