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Cheerleaders root to save selves from cuts STAPLES-MOTLEY SCHOOL BOARD Staff Writer STAPLES - Instead of cheering at a basketball game, a few girls on the Staples-Motley Cheerleading team had to cheer for themselves in front of the Staples-Motley School Board Monday.
The cheerleaders along with about 35 community members gathered in the Staples-Motley High School media center to voice their opinions on the district's proposal to make $1.29 million in cuts in 2006-07. The cheerleading program is proposed to be included as part of the cuts.
The district is hosting two public forums on the cuts. The second meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the middle school cafeteria in Motley.
Dawn Dickey, a junior, and Kirsten Haugen, a sophomore, were concerned that the district is looking at cutting $3,246 from the cheerleading program. Dickey said she would like to be on a cheerleading team in college, but said if she doesn't have any high school cheerleading experience that it'd be hard to make a college team. Dickey also said that she was hoping to get a cheerleading scholarship to go to college and if the program is cut she may not go to college.
Dickey also said she was afraid that if cheerleading or the other extra-curricular activities were cut that the students will have nothing better to do and they could get involved in drugs and alcohol.
"There's no telling what they'd do without these opportunities," she said.
Haugen said cheerleading has brought a lot of enthusiasm and high school spirit at the sporting events and if it's cut the enthusiasm would be decreased.
Peder Butenhoff, a high school art teacher, said, "It's disheartening to see these cuts. I think of the kids, not me. I can always find another job. I never have had an empty classroom since I've been here. I think you need to know what will be lost with these losses. Is it worth it? You need to look at all aspects."
Steve Hoemberg, who teaches ninth through 12th grade choir, said he did not know the difference on whether the board would make $1.3 million in cuts or if it made $1.27 million in cuts. He said the board needs to come up with a more creative solution to try to keep the activities in place.
"Is this the best we can do for our kids?" said Hoemberg, who also is a 1997 Staples Motley High School graduate. "What kind of message does this send to our kids or to any kids who would come here?
"This cheerleading squad should be worrying about getting their homework done and how their teams are doing. Not spending time crunching numbers on where the money is being cut from in the program."
Roy DiGiovanni, school board chairman, said, "These are not cuts we want to make. No one here wants to make these reductions. We're hear to look at what we can do and look at our options. It is good to hear your heartfelt emotions on the issues."
Staples Motley Superintendent Mark Schmitz said the cuts have to be made. He said the district spent more money than it projected in operating costs this school year while continuing to see a declining enrollment. He said with no levy in place and with no increases in state funding, the district must make cuts.
The district is looking at making $1.29 million in across-the-board cuts. Seven elementary teachers and 11 coaching positions are proposed to be cut and several administrators could be shuffled around to save money.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER can be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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