No indoor track in Frederick County schools?

No indoor track in Frederick County schools?
Snyder: Situation 'ridiculous'

By Kevin Spradlin
TriStateRunnur.com

HAGERSTOWN, Md., Jan. 9 -- He-he-he-he heeere we go again.

As the Frederick County public school system faces a budget deficit of about $20 million, the Frederick County Board of Education is targeting low revenue-generating sports such as swimming and indoor track - and the elimination thereof - to help fix the budget crisis.

During a special Frederick County-only coaches meeting on Saturday before the start of a quadrangular meet at Hagerstown Community College, Gov. Thomas Johnson indoor track coach Nick Snyder said the board's actions were "ridiculous."

"Get the parents involved," said Snyder, while standing firmly with Linganore coach and former
Athletic Director John Grim, to coaches from Tuscarora and Walkersville.

It's time to "mobilize," Grim said. "Don't wait for the next board meeting."

Start contacting school and board officials now, Grim said. Tell them how many kids participate, how much money activity fees bring in and where freshman would otherwise go if indoor track was not available. Have students and their parents send e-mails and make phone calls as well.

Fifth-year coach Lee Palmer, of Walkersville, argued that indoor track is among "the most successful and highly popular sports" with more than 600 Frederick County student-athletes participating this winter season.

"It's a great opportunity to involve freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors all on the same team and build up a program the way you should," Palmer said. "A lot of state championships come out of this county. I think it's a real shame we're on the chopping block."

There is a direct correlation, Palmer said, between good grades and the change of a student to student-athlete. For some, it's just the incentive they need to excel both on the track and in the classroom.

"To me, if there's a kid that needs motivation to do well in school, success in a sport is what can drive them that extra mile," said Palmer. "We are an education-first county. Being an athlete myself and a lover of sports, there are a lot of kids in this county ... they want to jump, they wan tto compete, they want to run. Sports is a huge motivator. To get rid of that would be pretty detrimental to the county in a lot of ways."

That's probably the exact kind of information school board members want to hear.http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=99755 In a Jan. 6 Frederick News-Post reporter Marge Neal quoted Board President Katie Groth as saying a list of extracurricular activities are on the chopping block. And instead of looking at only the costs associated with each program, "we should discuss the merits of each program."

But unlike the uncertain future of the Monocacy Valley Athletic League, this situation is directly connected to the almight bottom line - the budget.

"Times are tough," Palmer acknowledged. "My understanding is (the board of education) needs to account for a $20 million shortfall in the budget. I don't think any of these sports (indoor track or swimming) are any more of a $50,000 cost to the system. If you need to save $20 million ... I don't know why you're looking at a $50,000 sport."

Email Kevin at run@mountainMDmarathon.org.