IF the state's public high school athletic directors seem extremely nervous this week as state House and Senate conferees rush to complete a budget, don't blame them. More schools should
mean more moneyThey're not worried about losing a state automobile, a public relations specialist, or a mainland junket.
They're worried to death about the fact they haven't been able to find any specific mention of athletics in the current budget.
They've been assured that all's well. That they can expect to receive in the upcoming year what they've had in the current year.
But that's what worries them.
Each new fiscal year without an increase in the athletic budget equals a cut. That's because the state is adding high schools.
Hawaii's chronically uncreative legislature once again is cannibalizing the Department of Education budget. And athletics is at the top of the menu.
ADs are now warning each other that Armageddon is coming in the athletic budget battle they've been losing.
At the beginning of the current school year, each AD had to cut about three assistant coaching positions. Officially, legislators could shake their heads and say, "But, we gave you just as much as you had the previous year."
King Kekaulike began varsity sports this school year and took another share of an already small pie. ADs are bracing for more cuts in athletic staff this fall.
Kealakehe opened its doors last fall and will begin varsity sports in 1999-2000. If there is no new money and you can bet there won't be, baby more staff or programs will be cut to accommodate the newest member of the varsity community.
Will the legislature decide to make up for years of neglect when Keeau begins varsity sports in 2000-2001? That's the same year that Kapolei opens its doors. Two years later, Kapolei will go varsity.
If you think the state will suddenly find a way to adequately fund all these varsity programs, then I recommend counselling.
Cuts in coaching assistants are significant because decreased supervision in sports programs increases student-athlete risk.
Further cuts in equipment, supplies, transportation already atrociously substandard in some areas put your kid in even greater danger.
Just think for a minute.
This is a state athletic system which lets its kids sleep four or five to a hotel room in the best-case scenario for inter-island competition travel, or on gym and locker room floors in the worst-case-but-quite-common scenario.
This is where we're cutting.
Oh, and by the way. The bill to make the nationally certified athletic trainers permanent in their positions is dead.
The risk for student-athletes will be increased in the coming years due to inevitable fund shortages. But, I'm afraid we can't do anything about keeping the people whose job it is to insure your kids' safety on the playing fields.
I'm told there are about 12 schools which still do not have certified trainers. This, despite the fact that a landmark bill signed last year by the governor made Hawaii the first state to guarantee each of its public high schools a trainer.
Why don't they have trainers when the money is there for them?
On a lighter note, this is Miss Universe week, and I've found a sports connection.
Here goes: Miss USA, Shawnae Jebbia, is a marathoner who's run Boston. Miss Hungary, Agnes Nagy, is a three-time prep high jump champion in her nation. And Miss Mauritius, Leena Ramphui, was an accomplished prep track athlete at 800 and 1,500 meters, as well as the javelin and discus.
Pat Bigold has covered sports for daily newspapers
in Hawaii and Massachusetts since 1978.
