U-46 cutting freshman spring 'B' teams to cut costs

Cuts to athletic programs at Elgin Area School District U-46 high schools have been spelled out to the extent possible before spring sports tryouts.

District officials Thursday provided a list of the sports it would discontinue this spring as a result of $166,000 in athletic program cuts.

All five U-46 high schools - Elgin, Larkin, South Elgin, Bartlett and Streamwood - will no longer feature freshman "B" teams for baseball and softball.

Elgin, Larkin, South Elgin and Bartlett also will cut boys' "B" volleyball; and Streamwood and Bartlett cut girls' freshman track.

The cuts may be fairly uniform across the board, but principals say the effects of the cuts will be felt differently at each campus.

"You say 'take away the "B" team.' For some sports losing that team is a more significant loss than in other sports," Larkin Principal Jon Tuin said.

Since the athletic cuts were announced, Tuin said he's received only a handful of e-mails from concerned parents.

"It's been very quiet," he said.

Elgin High Principal Dave Smiley said there have been discussions about expanding the number of slots on various "A" teams to help compensate for "B" team cuts.

"We've gone round and round about that," Smiley said.

Some veteran coaches may have no problem taking on a few extra kids than typically make up a team, but that might be more difficult for novice coaches.

Ultimately, Smiley said, "we'll have to wait till we see what the participation levels are (in different sports) this spring."

The $166,000 is just one small part of the $4.9 million in budget cuts various district departments are facing. The largest source of reductions will be to staff stipends - roughly $1.2 million.

Reducing spending on capital outlay and supplies will yield another $1.5 million in savings, officials say.

Along with high school sports, cuts to middle school "B" basketball teams and intramurals will save $110,000, and swimming pools will be drained after winter activities conclude, saving $200,000.

Several positions, including a computer technician, financial services and information services analyst, will be eliminated at the half-year mark.

This is the fourth round of aggressive cost-cutting measures for U-46 in less than a year.

The cuts will only affect the 2009-10 school year, district spokesman Tony Sanders said. A district budget "task force"- composed of teachers, administrators and parents - will make recommendations about cuts next year.

<!-- 3 column, 5 listings --> <table summary="SUMARRYHERE" class="sofT" cellspacing="4" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td colspan="3" class="factboxheadblack">What's being cut where</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="leadin">High school</td> <td class="leadin">What's being cut</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="leadin">Bartlett</td> <td class="leadin">"B" baseball, softball, boys volleyball, girls track</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="leadin">Elgin</td> <td class="leadin">"B" baseball, softball and boys volleyball</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="leadin">Larkin</td> <td class="leadin">"B" baseball, softball and boys volleyball</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="leadin">Streamwood</td> <td class="leadin">Girls track, "B" baseball, softball</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="leadin">South Elgin</td> <td class="leadin">"B" baseball, softball, boys volleyball</td> </tr> </table>