Concerns prompt a summer summit

There are no simple solutions to the funding issues that face high school activities, but a gathering will be held this summer in hope of finding some answers.

The Minnesota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and the Minnesota State High School League will sponsor what's being billed as a "summit meeting" to explore the problem. It will be June 25 in Ottertail, northwest of Fergus Falls.

A group of around 20 people, including superintendents, athletic directors, legislators and others will meet that day. Organizers hope the event will lead to changes in state law that would allow schools to hold levy referendums specifically geared toward raising money for activities.

"I'm going to be a proponent that we look at it as activities, not just athletics," said Perham athletic director Fred Sailer, president of the Minnesota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

"I think it would relieve some of the stress on public schools with their general funds. I think we can find a way to fund what we all know to be good for kids, and to do it locally. We would like the Legislature to allow us to determine locally how we can better help provide programs for kids, and not take away from classrooms and textbooks."

MSHSL executive director Dave Stead said: "We talk about between 1 and 2 percent of a school's budget being for activities, and that's not just what we sponsor; that's the school newspaper and all those other things. And yet when districts go out for levy referendums they aren't always successful, so things get cut.

"What if the district would be able to levy up to a certain percent for activity programs, which would include the school newspaper and yearbook and student government and all those kinds of things?"

JOHN MILLEA