The school system has threatened budget cuts in the past, and the parents of Albert Lea who support arts and athletics are accustomed to fighting for their kids’ programs.

Friday, November 09, 2001

The school system has threatened budget cuts in the past, and the parents of Albert Lea who support arts and athletics are accustomed to fighting for their kids’ programs.

But this year, after the district’s operating levy referendum was defeated by the voters Tuesday, extracurricular boosters are bracing for the deepest cuts in a decade.

&uot;I think the boosters for each program have to be prepared to step in and keep things going – maintain the system,&uot; said girls’ basketball supporter Steve Merfeld. &uot;It’s a real detriment to the schools if any of our athletics or arts programs disappear due to these cuts everyone is talking about.&uot;

Merfeld said the administration and the school board may target programs with little or no gate receipts.

&uot;Many of those programs are girls’ sports. We might have to prepare for volunteer coaches or higher fees,&uot; he said.

Rich Hobson has been involved with Albert Lea soccer for several years. He said soccer participation has grown steadily over the last decade.

&uot;Our numbers are as high as they’ve ever been. Soccer is a very good program participation wise, and it’s got a good reputation in the state,&uot; Hobson said. &uot;But that doesn’t make us immune to cuts.&uot;

Hobson thinks the ninth-grade and perhaps even junior varsity programs in all sports are in danger, making it tough to stay competitive with other Big Nine schools.

&uot;If you take away the developmental squads, it’s going to hurt the programs big time,&uot; said Bob Rowe, a wrestling booster. &uot;That would be taking away the bread and butter of any program’s chance at continued success.&uot;

Band and music booster Phil Bartusek is preparing to attend some school board meetings. He plans to remind the members that Albert Lea has the oldest music program in the state with a long tradition of excellence. And programs like the marching band are rising to the top. But arts programs rely on &uot;feeder programs&uot; in the younger grade levels, just as athletics do.

&uot;If you’re talking about programs cuts, essentially it’s teachers and coaches. It’s the salaries the district is going to go after,&uot; Bartusek said. &uot;If that happens in the music program at all – say the elementary or junior high music programs – it’s going to be devastating to lose those potential musicians.&uot;

The arts programs offer students the chance to travel and meet other great musicians. The marching band, for example, is headed to Orlando this summer, and the choir returned from England earlier this year.

&uot;These are some amazing experiences for kids in Albert Lea. It’s true that individual families are paying the cost of those trips, but the schools are doing the actual training of these good musicians,&uot; Bartusek said.

Superintendent David Prescott said no decisions have been made regarding any cuts, but the school board will be deciding on a budget reduction figure in the next few weeks.

&uot;We know staff members are anxious about their jobs and parents are worried about the programs their kids are involved in,&uot; he said. &uot;But we can’t move forward until we’ve identified a target number.&uot;