DPSCD board president pushes for more funding for K-8 athletics

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The Detroit school district spends more than $300,000 a year on high school athletics, but one school board member wants more investment in younger athletes and girls’ sports.

Superintendent Nikolai Vitti gave an update on the athletics program for Detroit Public Schools Community District during a board committee meeting Wednesday. Out of the $4.82 million spent annually on sports, $340,441 is allocated to high school athletics and $112,000 goes to K-8 sports.

When the budget is broken down, $1.4 million is allocated for coaching pay, $1.1 million for contracted coaches that do not work for the district full-time and $691,295 for transportation. Other associated costs include paying DPSCD and non-DPSCD game-day staff and officials, and security and police support.

But there are gaps when it comes to funding and how much each sports team receives, especially between K-8 and high school sports, said board President LaTrice McClendon.

As a mother of a student athlete in the district, she’s noticed that some K-8 teams don’t have enough uniforms for everyone.

“There are several things missing,” she said. “There’s not enough shorts, not enough jerseys and a lack of a refresh happening at a lot of our schools. I really encourage you guys to do a survey and do an inventory, especially in basketball on the K-8 level, because these students are invested and they deserve to have good-looking uniforms.”

Some of the K-8 offerings include boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, track and field, and flag football. Meanwhile, the district high schools have sports like boys and girls golf, tennis and swimming, competitive cheer, and wrestling.

Beginning this school year, all teams district-wide will receive new uniforms every four years, instead of having to wait between four and six years, Vitti said. Additionally, after Labor Day, the district plans to distribute a survey in grades K-12 to determine what students’ interests are based on courses that are available, including enrichment programming. The survey will help identify gaps at individual schools, Vitti said.

McClendon also wants to see a budget increase for K-8 sports, which receive $200 per team. Meanwhile, high school varsity football is allotted $3,000 per team while junior varsity football receives $2,000 per team. All other varsity high school teams receive $1,000 each and junior varsity teams receive $535.

The allotments pay for things such as uniforms and required game attire, Vitti said.

“We at central office fund first aid supplies, training and practice equipment, team warm-ups and we repair or replace a damaged uniform,” he said.

McClendon called the budget for K-8 sports “terrible,” saying the district could do better.

“Two hundred dollars does not go a long way and a lot of the coaches have to come out of their pocket to pay for equipment for our children because we are not giving them more money,” she said. “Athletics can give our students college scholarships and give them a well-rounded experience as far as relationships and playing on a team.”

McClendon added that the district should level the playing field and have all of the high school varsity teams receive $3,000 for both boys’ and girls’ sports.

“Girls’ athletics is on the come-up, and so, we should be investing as much in female sports as we are investing in male sports,” she said.

Vitti said the budget for the football teams is significantly more because supplying the equipment is more expensive. He added that when teams need more equipment and supplies beyond the basics the district provides, coaches can talk to the school principal or the athletic director about the gaps that need to be filled.

“The district provides the standard items, not the extras,” Vitti said. “The extras come through the school budget or through fundraising.”

Board member Steven Bland asked if money from the DPSCD Foundation can be used to help cover the funding gaps. Vitti said the board sets the priorities for the foundation, so athletics could become one of those priorities. However, he isn’t sure if he wants the foundation to focus on athletics.

“My recommendation would be to focus on the larger costs that are more prohibitive — let the foundation focus on those,” Vitti said.

DPSCD board members seek easier access to games

In addition to gaps in funding, McClendon and board secretary Monique Bryant brought up the inconsistencies in ticketing for sports games. McClendon thought tickets for DPSCD students and the elderly were free, but mentioned she’s had to buy tickets for her children and grandparents.

According to the athletics page on the DPSCD website, tickets are $6 for high school varsity sports games, $4 for junior varsity games and $11 for varsity championships. Students 12 years old and younger accompanied by a paying adult are free. K-8 sports games and championships are $3, and children under 8 years old accompanied by paying adults are free. People can buy tickets online through the GoFan app.

Vitti said the policy was inconsistent in the past, but DPSCD students should be able to attend games for free at all schools this year.

“We should have a unified policy and an expectation for students and for our seniors,” Bryant said.

Vitti said that there will be two entrances at games — one for students and one for the general population. Students will have to show their ID or another form of verification to prove they’re part of the district. Students can also pull up PowerSchool on their phone to show they are enrolled, Vitti said.

“We probably need to get clarification on the ticketing process in a separate meeting,” McClendon said. “Maybe we can have some follow-up emails about that.”

Micah Walker is a reporter for BridgeDetroit. You can reach her at mwalker@bridgedetroit.com.