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With just 23 players, the Spotsylvania High Knights (red and white) suffered a lopsided loss to Massaponax.
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By PAMELA GOULD
Spotsylvania High School is holding a second round of football tryouts this week, but it isn't because of the team's performance.
Coaches made the unusual move to reopen tryouts because many students couldn't get a ride to the rural school last month, Principal Rusty Davis said.
The Spotsylvania County School Board eliminated activity buses for middle and high schools for the 2009-10 school year as part of budget cuts, providing a savings of $243,885.
Not only did activity buses provide students rides home following after-school activities in years past, but they also had run during preseason practices and tryouts.
"The impact on athletics has been felt across the board," Davis said this week.
The varsity football team currently has 23 players, about half the number of seasons past. On Monday, three days after the team opened the season with a blowout loss to Massaponax, 37 teens showed up for tryouts.
Those who make the team won't be allowed to play in games immediately.
The school's field hockey team, marching band and cheerleading squad all are also below their normal numbers, Davis and Activities Director Buddy Herndon said. Only the volleyball and cross-country teams are at full strength.
Herndon said the full impact of eliminating the buses will be seen in November when winter sports begin and activities are in full swing.
In the past, students also stayed after for remedial work on academics.
"I do support the decision, but it's a tough pill to swallow," Davis said.
The Free Lance-Star called the county's other four high schools and all seven middle schools regarding the activity buses. Of those interviewed, only Spotsylvania Middle Principal Mark Beckett reported problems.
He said his school has seen a slight dip in participation in athletics.
Attempts to interview Post Oak Middle School administrators were unsuccessful. Post Oak is located next to Spotsylvania High and, like Spotsylvania Middle, is a feeder school to Spotsylvania High.
Spotsylvania High and Post Oak draw students from the most rural and expansive segment of the county. It's a 45-minute ride for some students.
FISCAL AND SAFETY ISSUES
Superintendent Jerry Hill and school board members expected Spotsylvania High and its feeder schools to face the biggest challenge when the buses were dropped, but made the cut for financial and liability reasons.
Several board members were concerned about combining students in grades sixth through 12 and dropping them off a mile or more from home, often in the dark.
Amanda Blalock, who has consistently opposed cutting the activity buses, wasn't surprised to hear how things were going, especially at Spotsylvania High.
"I hate to hear it, but this is what I was afraid of," she said. "I think maybe we have let down the children who needed us most."
Ray Lora, who represents the district where the rural schools are located, said the need for buses at Spotsylvania High is obvious and isn't going away.
"We know that we need to [provide buses] for Spotsylvania High and we should do that," he said.
Lora and Davis expressed concern about teens taking matters into their own hands and loading classmates into their cars.
"One day, we could have a tragedy out here, and we, as adults, should have foreseen that," Lora said.
Under state law, teenagers in their first year of driving can't carry more than one passenger in their cars. Teens under 18 with more than a year of driving can carry up to three passengers.
But Davis said he's against teens driving teens home.
"In my humble opinion, that is not safe transportation," he said. "That is not what we want at all."
Board chairman Gil Seaux said student safety is always an issue, but the school division is in no position to be adding expenses.
He's concerned about needing to make more cuts as the state and nation continue in tough economic times.
Hill said the executive director of secondary education was to meet this week with Davis to try to find solutions for his school.
"We will try to figure out something to help them, but it probably will not be adding activity buses out there and not somewhere else," Hill said. "It's not an easy fix."
Pamela Gould: 540/735-1972
Email: pgould@freelancestar.com
| SAFE TEEN DRIVING
State law restricts the number of passengers teens can carry in their cars. According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles: Drivers under age 18 may carry one passenger under age 18 during the first year they are licensed to drive. After licensed for one year, teens may carry up to three passengers under age 18 until the driver reaches age 18. Learner's permit holders may not carry more than one passenger under age 18. Passenger restrictions don't apply to family members. Teens who violate the passenger restrictions can have their licenses suspended. dmvnow.com/webdoc/citizen/drivers/restrictions.asp |
