DuPage park districts won't resurrect District 200 'B' teams

Saying there's no feasible way to duplicate the program, two park districts have "no immediate plans or intentions" to resurrect "B" sports teams for Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200's four middle schools.

"The park district cannot successfully provide the program that there is a demand for," said Mike Benard, Wheaton Park District director.

And even if they could, there isn't enough time for the Wheaton and Warrenville park districts to have a replacement league in place by this fall, officials say.

The "B" teams provide athletic outlets for middle school students who don't play on their school's regular squads.

District 200 officials recently eliminated the teams when they cut $150,000 earmarked for the program from their tentative 2010-11 budget. They hoped to turn over responsibility for the program to the park districts.

Now it appears "B" teams won't be offered for the first time since they were established during the 2000-01 school year.

Some parents and coaches have said that would be a disservice to the more than 250 seventh- and eighth-graders who play on the "B" teams for boys and girls basketball and girls volleyball.

Rob Kroehnke, a teacher and coach at Edison Middle School, said he is concerned students who fail to make a school's primary team might abandon the sport if there isn't a "B" team option.

"In the 10 years we have offered 'B' teams, I've found most (students) have enjoyed their experience and continued to work hard to improve," Kroehnke recently told the school board. "I've had players that have played on 'B' teams at the middle school and ended up playing at the high school."

Still, school district officials say they can't afford the program's price tag. District 200 has slashed millions of dollars in spending over the past two years, including roughly $6.4 million in cuts in its 2010-11 budget.

"We don't have the budget for it," Superintendent Brian Harris said. "If we didn't do that $150,000 reduction, what are we going to do? That's three teachers. Do we reduce three more teachers somewhere?"

The program's cost is proving to be the biggest obstacle for the park districts, too.

District 200 teachers previously were paid to coach teams during practices and games held immediately after school. The district also provided transportation for the teams to reach their games.

Since the park districts rely on volunteer coaches, practices and games would have to be scheduled in the evening and on weekends. There also wouldn't be any transportation to and from game sites.

"Even if we were inclined to replicate the school district's program, we would have to charge $500 per athlete to ensure the program was financially sustainable," Benard said. "And we could not be sure the other school districts would even allow us into their league."

Realistically, Benard said a park district-run program would involve teams from District 200's four middle schools competing against each other - not teams from other school districts.

"Regardless, nothing meaningful can happen by the time school starts in August," Benard said. "There simply isn't enough time."