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The Lansing School District's athletic programs became a hot potato at the July 29th public hearing at which NYS Public Service Commission (PSC) representatives collected public input on whether the Cayuga Power Plant should be converted from coal powered to natural gas.  Some residents testified that closing the plant would decimate school tax revenues, noting that athletics and co-curricular activities would be the first on the chopping block.

Monday the Lansing Board of Education got a look at exactly how much is being spent on those programs.  A total of $726,482 is being spent on athletics and co-curricular activities, representing about 3.2% of $24.5 million in expenditures last year.  Administrative Business Office intern Troy Bilodeau presented the breakdown to the board at Monday's meeting.

Athletic Director Adam Heck also presented Monday, illustrating what the district gets for the $581,223 the district spends on athletics.  He noted that this season's restricted list is at an all time low for athletes who have trouble keeping up academically. 

Heck reported the varsity cross country team went to Chenango Valley yesterday to compete in State qualifier meets.  The JV volleyball team finished the season with a win in Trumansburg.  The varsity volleyball team, with a 8-6 season, went to Sectional quarterfinals in Oneonta this week.  The varsity Girls Swimming and Diving team have had an undefeated season this fall, despite the Lansing pool being closed for much of the practice and swim meet season, forcing the team to be bussed to Ithaca College for practices.

The varsity football team finished their regular season 5-3, then lost to Waverly in a division title game last Saturday.  They will play in the sectional semi-finals tomorrow. 

The varsity soccer teams has had an outstanding season.

"They are 16 and 0," Heck said.  "They are currently number one in New York State.  They are IAC Division and Large School champions.  They competed in the sectional semi-finals this week.  Varsity boys are 16 and 1, and are IAC Division and Large School Champions.  they play Wednesday at home against T-burg, the only team to beat us thus far."

The largest athletics expense is $214,755 for coaching salaries and benefits. Additional salaries and benefits for time keepers, ticket takers, scoreboard operators and other support positions add another $10,500.  Another $73,300 goes to the Athletic Director's office, covering salaries and benefits for one keyboard specialist and .4 of a teacher salary, the amount of time the Athletic Director spends in that position.  It also includes a stipend for being Athletic Director and benefits.


Equipment comes to $15,413, and $20,549 is budgeted for materials and supplies.

The contractual expense of $73,684 is mostly related to the IAC fees, which cover referees and officials for sports contests," Bilodeau explained.  "Conferences at $8,339 are mostly tied in with state playoffs, state qualifiers, things like that where the teams have reached that level.  They're now travelling and staying over.  With the success of the teams that becomes an expense for the district."

The total cost of Athletics is $581,223 including those categories plus maintenance expenses, BOCES services and transportation.  Another $145,169 is spent on salaries and benefits for co-curricular advisors and staff.

The school board asked for 'program budget' presentations so board members can understand the overall budget in the context of school program costs, rather than the typical line item presentation required by the state.  As they face yet another budget gap this year, program budget breakdowns will help them understand the actual consequences to programs and kids when dollars are either assigned to or cut from one program or another.

So far this year professional development, special services, instructional support services, and athletics and co-curricular programs representing about $6 million of the total budget have been covered.

Some monies are raised by team and club events, barbecues, and other means.  The cast of the high school drama performed at a Barnes and Noble book fair in October, and the football team regularly handles parking for the Lansing Fireworks and Harbor Festival.  The cheerleader program was dropped by the school district, but is now run by the Town of Lansing Recreation Program for fees and using volunteer coaches.

"These presentations will not sum to the actual budget," cautioned Business Administrator Mary June King.  "There will be some overlap.  We are using actual expenditures for last year, so we're talking about a $24.5 million expenditure."

King said that the future of power plant revenues is uncertain after a PILOT agreement is finished next year.  If the plant is not repowered, it is probable that it won't be closed for another two or three years.  Even if the PSC decides it will be converted to natural gas the impact on school tax revenues is impossible to predict.

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