Budget forces N.Y. school district to consider dropping football

The Oswego City School District (New York) is considering dropping football and other sports teams to address a $5 million shortfall in its budget.

In addition to the athletic department changes, the district could also cut 51 jobs beginning with the 2016-17 school year, according to Syracuse.com. Funding cuts combined with rising costs puts the district in what Superintendent Dean Goewey called a “heartbreaking” position.

Here is a look at the proposed athletic cuts, according to Syracuse.com:

• Varsity and JV football
• Football cheerleaders
• Freshman basketball
• Girls varsity hockey
• Varsity wrestling
• Girls JV tennis
• Boys and girls indoor track
• All modified sports

The district estimates that the above cuts would save about $364,474. That includes not only the costs of operating the sports themselves, but also coaching salaries, officials, transportation and other related costs.

Funding for public school sports suffered nationwide during the recession, but over the last couple years budgets have improved, according to Coach & Athletic Director survey data. But not all schools are feeling the recovery, meaning cuts to athletic programs are still possible.

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