RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION- April 25, 2000 Interscholastic Athletic Study Committee Proposal
	INFORMATION: In an effort to improve the Athletic Program, the administration is recommending changes to the structure of the Interscholastic Athletic Program in grades 7-12. These changes will provide a wide variety of competitive athletic experiences to student athletes in a way that complements the academic experience of both the participant and the student body in general, and instills, develops, and encourages the positive characteristics of excellence, sportsmanship, fitness, teamwork, and discipline. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of School Directors approve the attached Interscholastic Athletic Study Committee Proposal. *A copy of the Interscholastic Athletic Study Committee Proposal is available in the Business Office of the Education Center, 1516 Sycamore Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for review.

Minutes

Director Leeson applauded the efforts of the group for putting together a quality
athletics proposal.  It is wonderful that they made the effort to get all
interested parties together:  parents, staff, administration.  By doing so, they
created a true picture of what the district wants the athletic department to be.
They have done an excellent job of preparing a mission statement, a definition of
goals, the idea of athletics running from middle schools through high school, the
clear lines of communication, and organizational structure.  All of these are
wonderful.  But, Director Leeson stated she did not understand why we need to
spend $88,000 a year doing this.  We have about a $1,400,000 athletic budget.  We
know that we are going to have some upcoming expenses with the New Standards
initiatives.  She thinks additional monies should be put into academic endeavors
right now.  This realignment or clarification of the athletic department can
stand without the additional funding.  We can keep the ideas without necessarily
needing to put the money into it.

Director Craig stated that the national average for school district
interscholastic and extra-curricular activities budgets is two to three percent
of total school budgets.  In Bethlehem, it is 1.2%, less than half the national
average.  Part of the recommendations are recommendations to comply with Title IX
which is law that you must have comparable programs and comparable staffs for
girls and boys sports.  Part of the recommendation is money to bring up the
soccer programs and the girls sports to the boys sports which is law.  We need to
absolutely consider that part of the recommendation.  The cost of $80,000 is
spread out over three years.  Part of the budget presentation made by Mr.
Majewski was that after this coming year some of our budget problems will change
because of new monies that we will be getting.  This proposal is really a $28,000
increase for next year.  The second year it goes up another $28,000.  By that
time the new monies should be realized, so this would not be a big monetary
problem.  Many of these proposals cannot be instituted without the money.
Director Craig added that he is very concerned about meeting the Title IX law
requirements.

Director Leeson responded to Director Craig.  The Title IX compliance comes to a
total of $5,874, a very small portion of the total budget.  The first two years
funds from the concession stands are being recommended for the middle school
coordinator.  Director Leeson stated she agrees with the Title IX compliance. She
 would like the district to implement the program without all of the additional
positions and funds for the present and revisit this, if it is felt necessary to
add these positions later.