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Dan · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 10:49 am Post subject: Portland Spring Sports

This wasn't sent directly to me, but I think the nature of the message is one that submitting it to as many people as possible would be welcomed:

Conway · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 11:08 am Post subject:

How can an entire school district NOT have enough funds to provide athletics to kids !!! I've never heard of anything like this before ... Never ... Rotten school board ??? Districts get state & federal funding on top of local monies .... That is unconscienable ....
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Conway
Speed Thrills

Dan · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 11:27 am Post subject:

Oregon public schools have been in a fairly desparate situation ever since the infamous Measure 5 back in about '91. It appears the situation has gotten even worse... The Oregon economy and unemployment rate is supposedly amongst the worst in the nation, so that probably doesn't help. Several small school districts have dropped sports funding recently and gone to public support, but I didn't figure it would come to that for the entire PIL...

Dan

Conway · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 11:50 am Post subject:

So what was measure 5 ??? Sounds like the plague or something .... Physical education is suposed ot be a basic part of curiculum as are various sports considered a core part of Phys Ed !!!!!!!!!!! Has there been no public outcry over this ??? No cries of fund mismanagement or something ?@?@?@?
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Conway
Speed Thrills

Dan · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 11:56 am Post subject:

It's been awhile, so I don't remember everything that Measure 5 entailed, but it was basically a huge funding cutback that had the double whammy of revenue sharing. What was intended to be a positive -- sharing funds throughout the state's schools -- turned into a huge negative in that there was little incentive for people to contribute money to their local schools because very little of it would actually go to the intended source.

Conway · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 12:38 pm Post subject:

Wow ... I'm dumbfounded ... I thought that spending on education was always a priority in state governments ... That is just amazing ... And to think at one time I considered moving to the Portland area ... So much for that ... I want my kids to get an education ...
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Conway
Speed Thrills

Dan · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 12:59 pm Post subject:

If you want more evidence that you made a wise decision, here's my personal experience... I started out at Benson High School (the dominant sprint school in the state most years) in Portland, part of the PIL discussed above. I was there one quarter and breezed through with a 4.0 GPA, having only one remotely challenging class (which was quite challenging, I might add). Basically show up more or less on time and you're guaranteed a B average... I transferred to Lake Oswego High School when we moved early in the school year and busted my butt from that point on to maintain a 3.8. Night and day the amount of work it took to maintain a lower average. I believe Benson is regarded as one of the better PIL schools academically, too. What's worse, that was 2 or 3 years before Measure 5 took effect, so I would guess the discrepancy is even greater now.

Dan

Conway · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 3:08 pm Post subject:

Wow ... Am familiar with both schools ... Wasn't aware that the descrepancy was that great ... Course wasn't much different when i was in school here in California ... I went to school across town because the school I was supposed to go to was vastly inferior to the one I chose academically .. And unfortunatley that is comon in most cities/areas ... But no where in the state is any district threatening to cut sports !!!!
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Conway
Speed Thrills

Dan · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 3:32 pm Post subject:

Distance_Guru · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 6:58 pm Post subject:

Wow, that is absolutly horrible. Cutting sports especially in big city schools is unbelievably sad. I've seen schools that didn't have certian sports, primarily because they were to small and therefore didn't have enough interest. But to have a school district not have spring sports is appalling. I know Nebraska's public schools have gotten slashed since last September and the resulting tax short fall. But we haven't had anything to that extent. Is there some way they can apply for emergancy federal aid or something?
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Time is the fire in which we burn

Dan · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 7:21 pm Post subject:

I had a sneaking suspicion the thinking was to put everyone into a panic and attract corporate sponsorship of some sort instead of bothering themselves with figuring out the budget woes. I was thinking earlier today it would be a perfect fit for the Blazers who probably need annual tax write-offs around this time of year and are desparate for improving their badly bruised image. What better way than to float the local high school sports programs? Interestingly, I just caught the tale end of the news and it appears Damon Stoudamire (Portland native) donated $250k to the PIL, so there's a good chance spring sports will survive at least this year.

Dan

Distance_Guru · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 8:00 pm Post subject:

That's good to hear. I also would tend to think this sort of a thing is as much a stunt to gain boosters as it is a real threat. Having been to my share of budget meetings where cuts are discusssed, I've foudn the higher ups always give you the worst case possible in order to either scare up donations or make the cuts that are coming seem less severe.
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Time is the fire in which we burn

Conway · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2002 10:20 pm Post subject:

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