This week is number 5 in a 6-week series I’m writing to update our STC community on what I’ve learned so far as a school board member.
This week it’s all about activities and sports. First, let me talk about the tremendous benefits students receive from participating in extracurricular activities. Some valuable things participants learn are communication skills, teamwork, becoming a better listener, and developing a more positive attitude. Some more individual things students learn are discipline, better self-esteem, and overall talent. Getting involved typically improves classroom behavior and improves overall fitness and athleticism. I could go on and on about the benefits students receive from participating in these activities. Students who get involved are 15% more likely to go to college. Some studies show that a student’s academic achievement can increase by as much as 40%. I know that’s wishful thinking for some, but for others it’s true.
Okay, let’s look at some numbers. There are 21 sports teams at the high school level in the STC school district, including the 4 cheerleading and dance teams. There are 21 other activities such as theater, art clubs, marching band, and FFA, to name a few, that students can participate in. Many athletes are very involved in these other types of activities as well. Some students are active in as many as seven or eight clubs or teams throughout the year and still get good grades.
At the high school alone, there are 42 head coaches and many assistant coaches. Of the 456 high school students, all but 75 are involved in some activity year-round. That’s nearly 84% participation!
There are 423 students at the middle school. Many of these students participate in a variety of activities, with a total of 471 participating. 25 activities are led by coaches and many have assistants. The middle school staff does an excellent job of integrating most of the athletes from the youth leagues into the school programs and encouraging others to get involved.
Our district spends approximately $290,332 to pay all the coaches or sponsors that bring out the best in our students and develop their talents. Coaches are paid out of the general fund. All money raised through sports and activity events goes into the activities fund. This fund is responsible for paying the referees, equipment for the concession stands, and pretty much everything needed for the 67 different activities in our district. The activities fund is also supported by sales from the vending machines for students and teachers. The only exception to this is the theater department. They keep the money they earn separate from the activities fund to pay for their department’s equipment, clothing, and props, etc. The theater department is self-sufficient and manages these funds well.
The athletic departments generate far more revenue for the district, but still fund all of the students’ extracurricular activities. Each year, the high school’s activity account starts at about $40,000 and the middle school’s at $30,000. These aren’t set numbers from year to year, but it’s close. The most important thing is that they’re self-sustaining.
The most expensive sport is high school football. Each year, 30 to 40 helmets need to be replaced. This typically costs between $2,000 and $5,000. These helmets need to be replaced every 10 years. New helmets cost $425 or more. New football pads cost $300 each. The five referees at football games cost $235 per night for both games. Ticket prices for most sporting events are set by the WaMaC conference. Our district makes between $2,000 and $10,000 per night in gate receipts and up to $3,000 in concessions. So it really makes a difference if we have 4 or 5 football games each year and if it’s a home game or if we’re playing against a strong competitor like Grinnell. At the high school level, the rule is you need one coach for every 10 athletes. We have a total of six coaches, four at the varsity level and two at the freshman level. This is primarily for the safety of all athletes. The three sports that bring in the most money are football, wrestling and track and field.
Some sports teams and activities have their own fundraisers. The funds raised can stay with the team to do whatever they want. But of course, the funds raised can only be spent after approval from the activities director.
Not all coaches are paid the same. For example, based on 5 years of experience, a high school football head coach makes $5,200, the high school band director can make $3,200. The eighth grade basketball head coach makes $2,350, and the e-sports coach makes $3,200. It all depends on how long the season is. It could be a one-day musical performance or coaching FFA students in various competitions year-round. All activities require countless hours of practice. Most teams travel to other districts, and all coaches have responsibility for the welfare and safety of the students. Each coach is trained in many areas before receiving a coaching certification. Topics such as training theory, ethics, injury prevention, and child abuse are just a few of the most important.
Let’s talk about the WaMaC conference we are in. First of all, WaMaC is an acronym for three rivers that run through east central Iowa: Wapsipinicon, Maquoketa, and Cedar. STC school district is the second smallest school in WaMaC. There has been talk in board meetings about joining the NICL conference. NICL stands for Northern Iowa Cedar League. Years ago we joined the NICL conference, but returned to WaMaC after just a few years. The main reason we returned to the NICL conference back then was because the NICL schools did not have competition in the arts departments like they do today. STC needed to be balanced for all activities involved, not just sports. STC is still considered a 3A school in all sports and activities except football, where we are considered a 2A. There is a formula that uses our number of free and reduced lunches to determine our conference eligibility. If South Tama joined the NICL conference, we would be one of the largest districts. Last winter, South Tama applied to join the other conference, but we were unanimously rejected by the other schools. We hope to appeal their decision and reapply in the future. I think joining a conference with smaller schools would benefit us for several reasons. We would be closer to the events, and perhaps more people would come to our home events if we had more successful programs. More successful programs could bring in additional money for the district. I know there are some people who disagree with me on this point, but that is my opinion.
Okay, here is my advertisement for our school district and how you can get involved. Our district needs more officials and coaches. If you are interested in becoming a coach or referee, the STC district will reimburse you for the cost of your training to become certified. Please contact Chelsea Ahrens or Scott Bolen at 641-484-4811 to start a conversation. If you are not ready to do this but could help in other ways, the STC Booster Club does many great things for our school. One of their annual fundraisers is the Ken Kolpin Open Golf Tournament on August 17th. This is a great way to volunteer or participate to raise money for the club. So get out of the house, meet new friends, and make a difference in our community.
Next, there are activity passes. Any resident of the STC school zone who is 65 years of age or older can get a pass that gives them free admission to all sports and activity events except theater events. Other adult passes are $90 per year and family passes are $250 per year. Individual tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students per event. There are nearly 50 events at the high school and about 60 at the middle school throughout the year. Contact the schools to sign up and come cheer on the Trojans!
I know I haven’t said anything about the accomplishments and successes of our athletes or other activities. I believe our local newspaper does a great job of covering these stories. Our coaches and staff put in tremendous hard work each year to help tomorrow’s leaders become the best people they can be. There is no doubt that sports or other activities make a huge difference in the kind of person your child or grandchild will become. And as for the coaches, shake their hands, say thank you, and enjoy the fruits of their labor with a better, more well-rounded student. Next week is all about academics. Until then, that’s how I see it!
