District proposes staffing-ratio approach for activities instead of broad level cuts; could save about $100K–$200K
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Summary
Athletics and activities staff proposed using participation-based staffing ratios and other revenue measures rather than eliminating activity levels across schools. The district estimated conservative savings of about $100,000 and up to $200,000 under some scenarios and discussed Title IX and equity implications.
Robbinsdale activities and athletics staff presented a plan April 22 to reduce district costs tied to extracurriculars by aligning coach staffing to actual student participation — rather than by eliminating entire schedule levels across schools — and by pursuing revenue options such as increased admissions, ticket packages and sponsorships.
Athletic directors and activities staff described initial considerations presented in March — which had included potential elimination of some activity levels — and said that approach would have uneven impacts across schools. Instead, the staff recommended tightening how Appendix B (coaching stipends and levels) is funded by allocating positions based on actual participation and using target student-to-coach ratios to maintain safety and mentorship.
The presentation estimated a conservative annual savings of roughly $100,000 if the district aligned staffing to current participation; staff said that number could approach $200,000 using this year’s enrollments and by implementing revenue measures. Staff discussed options including charging admission at lower-level indoor contests, expanding ticket packages, selling scoreboard and program advertising, and an activities access fee for families (with fee-waivers for qualifying students). The district also raised co-oping select sports with nearby schools or youth associations for low-participation activities and noted transportation and program-equity trade-offs.
Administrators acknowledged Title IX and Minnesota State High School League reporting requirements and said they would maintain parity between male and female sport opportunities; staff reported that the district offers the same number of sports for each gender and files required civil-rights and participation reports. No formal reductions were adopted at the meeting; board members gave nonbinding thumbs-up to continue developing the approach and asked staff to return with details, equity metrics and implementation options.
The board did not vote on deletions of activity levels; staff said the next steps would include more conversations with schools, students and community stakeholders before any required board action under contractual (Appendix B) constraints.