Jeanne Massey had some questions about sports in the Minneapolis Schools. I can't check with district officials over the break, but here are some numbers provided to the Youth Coordinating Board as we've worked over the last year (with some success) to improve sports options for young folks in Minneapolis
********************************* 1. What share of Minneapolis district dollars go to support sports? I understood that school sports were mostly fee based, but I'm not certain what that means. 2. How does this share compare to that of various suburban districts? RESPONSE: According to 1999-2000 Metro ECSU numbers for 16 metro (city and first-ring) school districts: Minneapolis ranks last for sports in: (1) percentage of district budget (1.19 percent -- substantially lower than No. 15 Columbia Heights at 1.75 percent, and about half the median district percentage. Brooklyn Centers was reported as spending 5.58 percent) and (2) per-public allocations ($146.15). Comparison: St. Louis Park was spending $338. These numbers are almost certainly a fraction of second and third-ring suburbs.. ********************************* 3. Do corporations sponsor sports in Minneapolis schools and, if so, how much? RESPONSE: There are no formal corporate sponsorships that I know of, but I will check. One of the hopes of the YCB initiative is to bring more private money in to support sports at all levels and for all ages of Minneapolis young people. ********************************* 4. Do parents and students view Minneapolis schools as less competitive than suburban schools due to lack of athletic opportunities? Is this another reason Minneapolis schools find it hard to compete with suburban schools? RESPONSE: Only anecdotal information on that. We've lost some "elite" athletes in many sports to suburbans and privates. On the other hand, I haven't heard many complaints that there are no good opportunities in the city schools. I don�t think it is seen as among the most significant contributors to declining enrollment. ********************************* 6. Given the high cost of school sports, in both (parental and student) time and money, are they not another way to divide the have and have-not kids in our schools? RESPONSE: You've got it. Fees of all kinds are a Rosetta Stone for understanding the true impact of growing economic disparities. Where many suburban families can afford fees and other amenities outlined in the Strib series, I don't think there is any doubt (although I can't forward research studies to support this) that some city families are discouraged by fees and in other cases young people choose jobs over sports. And certainly a parent dealing with major economic issues is not as likely to be able to support sports participation of sons and daughters. Dennis Schapiro Minneapolis Board of Education Linden Hills/Hawthorne REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
