Heraldnet.com
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2009 10:52 am
LocalNorthwestNation & WorldPoliticsSpecial ReportsPhotosColumnistsMultimedia 
Blog
Double Team
2009 Cascade Conference All-League Volleyball Teams
Podcasts:

High School Football
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Twitter Updates
    Latest gallery

    Saturday Football Nov. 7
    November 8. 2009 (6 photos)
    [More Herald photos]
     
    WEEK IN REVIEW
    Wednesday


    81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored...
    USO singer's voice still charms them in Edmonds
    Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme C...
    Tuesday


    Fire destroys Emory's restaurant
    Peggy Pritchard Olson always put Edmonds first
    Camano Island burglaries spike: Is Colton back?
    Monday


    Tree clearing, mud slide angers Everett neighbor
    Later start for school day unlikely in Marysville
    Hopes for Snohomish excursion train may hinge o...
    Sunday


    Glacier Peak freshman overcomes jitters to win ...
    Gay marriage issue can wait, say Referendum 71 ...
    Cities across south Snohomish County see tax re...
    Saturday


    Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Ti...
    Suspect identified in Seattle police killing
    Mountlake Terrace thrilled by high school's fir...
    Friday


    Officer Timothy Brenton. Gone, but not forgotten
    Person sought in officer's killing is shot in head
    Thousands to pay respects to slain Seattle poli...
    Thursday


    Tale of 1916 Everett Massacre retold in style o...
    Reservist survived Iraq but not his return to c...
    Swine flu suspected in infant’s death
     

    ADVERTISEMENT

    High Schools   Print This Article  Email This Page  Subscribe Now! facebook digg reddit del.icio.us fark stumble

     
    ADVERTISEMENT

     
    HIGH SCHOOL SCORES AND SCHEDULES:
    By sport:
    By date:
    By school:    • Stadium map
    By league:
    STANDINGS:
    CONTACT THE HERALD
    Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.)
    E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com
    Kevin Brown, Sports Editor
    kbrown@heraldnet.com
     
    Published: Saturday, July 12, 2008

    Fuel costs a burden on prep sports

    Struggling with escalating gas and diesel prices, some high schools and districts are hiking athletic participation fees to help offset the rising cost of transporting athletes to events.

    Bus rides are eliminated for high school sports teams. Athletes drive themselves to games or get a ride from a parent. School districts alleviate the impact of surging gas prices.

    The no-bus scenario isn't a reality in this area, but some say it could become a more likely option as administrators wrestle with near-record-high fuel costs and other rising expenses.

    "I could see it going that way," said Larry Johnson, superintendent of the Darrington School District. The rise in prices for diesel, which fuels bus fleets, "just kills us," Johnson said.

    As of Friday morning, the average cost for a gallon of diesel in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett area was $4.95, compared to $2.99 a year ago, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

    In Darrington, the fuel surge helped lead to a new cost for student-athletes. For the first time, Darrington High will have a mandatory athletic participation fee, Johnson said. Athletes will pay $50 per sport during the 2008-09 school year.

    The Edmonds School District also made changes to help offset fuel costs. The district's four high schools -- Edmonds-Woodway, Lynnwood, Meadowdale and Mountlake Terrace -- will charge $40 per sport next school year, up from $25 in 2007-08.

    Like everything else, gas prices are going up, said Jan Beglau, the district's new athletic director. Beglau said she knows the timing of the activity fee increase is difficult for families already coping with a weak economy, but it's necessary.

    "I think people acknowledge the fact that gas prices are going up. It's a (participation fee) rise that makes sense," she said.

    The Edmonds district fee is in the middle range of what other local high schools charge.

    Oak Harbor High athletes will pay $100 for one sport, $50 for a second sport and nothing for a third sport. That's up from a $75-per-sport fee this past school year.

    High school athletes in Snohomish will be charged $75 per sport for up to two sports, with no cost for a third.

    Seven schools that are members of the Western Conference will continue to have no athletic participation fee. They are Cascade, Everett and Jackson of the Everett School District; Kamiak and Mariner of the Mukilteo School District; Lake Stevens and Stanwood.

    Cascade, Everett and Jackson didn't feel the immediate impact of surging fuel costs this past spring, Everett district athletic director Robert Polk said, because the district has an independent bus contractor, Durham School Services.

    Unlike districts that have their own bus fleet and unionized drivers, Everett's contract with Durham ensures transportation expenses stay steady for an entire school year.

    But the spike in fuel costs will hit eventually, said Terrie DeBolt, Everett School District transportation supervisor. Every summer Durham renegotiates portions of its five-year contract with Everett and has a chance to address higher-than-expected fuel prices, she said.

    Local districts already have used creative ways to reduce travel costs by decreasing the number and distance of bus trips for sports teams. Further north, administrators approved more dramatic changes.

    Last month, athletic directors from the Northwest Conference, a 14-team league that includes Class 1A, 2A and 3A schools ranging from Mount Vernon to Blaine, voted to cut junior varsity schedules by 10 percent, trim C-team schedules by 20 percent and eliminate preseason varsity jamborees.

    In basketball, for example, the cuts mean JV teams will play two fewer games (18 instead of the usual 20).

    The reductions could save between $10,000 and $20,000 for each school district during the 2008-09 academic year, said Jim Clem, Burlington-Edison High's athletic director. The cuts are intended to save money and preserve sports programs without reducing participation, he said.

    Fuel prices, of course, were a key factor.

    "It's a big one and we're not even sure how big yet, honestly," Clem said. "We'll have to see what this year brings. We certainly don't anticipate the prices going down."

    Another problem compounding the transportation issue is a shortage of bus drivers. Marysville School District athletic director Greg Erickson and Monroe High athletic director Brett Wille both said they had trouble finding drivers for afternoon team buses this past school year because most drivers were busy with daily school routes. In some cases, Monroe rented charter buses for athletes, Wille said.

    Despite all the budget challenges, high school program cuts and schedule reductions are not planned in local leagues, said 10 athletic directors contacted by The Herald.

    The possibility of eliminating bus transportation for teams has been discussed. But slicing programs, "is not even on the plate." Snohomish district athletic director Mark Albertine said.

    Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.

    1. Emory’s owner fears fire was arson
    2. Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme Court
    3. Vatican ponders the souls in space
    4. 81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored in Snohomish
    5. Hope dims that Olympics will boost region
    6. Student hit in crosswalk to return
    7. Smokey Point to celebrate end of roadwork
    8. Death on Edmonds waterfront ruled a suicide
    9. Help for young moms may continue
    10. Semifinal slate sealed on ‘Dancing With Stars’
    Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
    Bazaar Fever
    Hawks proud of historic season
    Olson always put Edmonds first
    Honoring student veterans
    ‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop
    Mavs build early lead en route to easy win
    Prep football games of the week (state playoffs)
    Tears of laughter, tears of grief
    Death on Edmonds beach likely a suicide
    The Enterprise Online Newspaper


    $5 OFF
    Lunch or Dinner

    Great Food
    24 Hours a Day

    Pacific Northwest
    Fresh Cuisine

    50% off 2nd Pizza
    Special Click Here!

    $2 OFF
    at Box Office

    $5 Off
    Stylecut

    Island Flavors with
    Finest NW Ingredients

    Free Dessert!
    Click here!

    Family Night Free Sundae
    $9.99 Prime Rib

    All you can Eat Buffets
    Angel of the Winds

    20% Off Dinner
    Up to $75 Value!

    FREE Appetizer with any
    purchase daily 2-6pm

    15% Off Your
    First Time Purchase

    Oil - Snohomish County
    Low Prices - Fill Now!

    FREE 6 lb. Pad w/
    30yd Carpet Purchase

    $1 off French Dip
    $4.99 Burger Basket

    20% off Click Here*
    Buy 1 Offer Click Here*

    25% off Bath & Groom
    New Customers

    FREE Appetizer w/
    purchase of 2 entrees

    QuadraFire Save $250
    Free Smart-Stat

    Come and Relax
    Monthly Specials

    Free Garlic Bread/Free Soda
    Click here for details!

    Buffet Dining
    Tulalip Resort

    Lube, Oil & Filter
    Buy 1 - Get 1 FREE
    TODAY'S TOP JOBS
     View All Top Jobs 
    Top Cars
    Top Homes

    ADVERTISEMENT