No Duval high school sports?

charlestondxman · March 12, 2011, 11:29:22 PM

I know this fits on sports, but this would be a huge story so it fits here. Duval County, with Governor Scott's budget cuts, is thinking about cutting all of its high school sports.

What an embarrassment Jacksonville would be with no high school sports teams.

Here is an article from Hays Carlyon of the T-U:

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-03-12/story/no-money-available-duval-high-school-sports-says-board-chairman

dougskiles · March 13, 2011, 05:51:24 AM

Sadly, we deserve this. Jacksonville provided much of Scott's support during the election.

If this actually happens, the repercussions will be widespread for our community. Not just the parents and kids. I can't imagine anyone deciding to move here when we are the only city without high school sports.

My guess (and hope) is that we will find some way to keep the sports. But it won't be without a serious fight.

JeffreyS · March 13, 2011, 09:20:36 AM

I hope we keep the sports too. I just hope we fund the 5th day of school first, our arts programs and career specific courses as well.

tufsu1 · March 13, 2011, 09:37:08 AM

and in addition to cutting sports, music programs and other "arts" are also on the block....what a great idea!

dougskiles · March 13, 2011, 10:35:32 AM

I told my kids this morning about the cuts. They were very upset about it. And wanted to know why. I told them to call Grandma and Grandpa and ask them why their generation is too cheap to pay for anything that doesn't rhyme with social security or medicaid.

Clem1029 · March 13, 2011, 10:38:37 AM

I dunno...sounds like the typical posturing that government agencies do all the time. When budgets get cut, say the most popular things are what have to go instead of making real budget decisions that might impact their little fiefdoms. Wait for the public outcry, and viola, magically there are no more budget cuts.

JeffreyS · March 13, 2011, 12:12:11 PM

The posturing does not mean the problem isn't real. So you would believe it was a real problem only if Mr. Gentry had not pointed out the consequences?

Duuuvalboy · March 13, 2011, 01:14:58 PM

It's time for me to move out of Jacksonville. Ladies and Gentlemen, Jacksonville is lame, boring and far behind. I'm starting to really dislike this city. Now no sports? I never heard this in my life where the kids can't play sports. Lock your doors and have your fiyah on you. Robbing and murder rates are finna shoot highhhhh!!!! in the sky

Ralph W · March 13, 2011, 01:25:29 PM

You know, this crap didn't just develop overnight. We have been electing and the elected have been derelict in many phases of their jobs. In spite of years of warnings from the business community and many of the workers in the trenches, locally and nationally, the definition of insanity has been proved many times over. Our progeny will excel in the bread line queues.

Non-RedNeck Westsider · March 13, 2011, 01:32:46 PM

This isn't the first time that this has been brought up, so no need for any alarm.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/andy_staples/07/10/schools.economy/

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/2009-09-02-budget_sports_cuts_N.htm

Those two articles are from '08 & '09. This has been a real issue all over the country for a few years now, I guess it's just starting to hit home.

While it's unfortunate that the budgets won't allow it, I don't see how it's much different than earlier, when your kids weren't in high-school. They played sports then and they will continue to play, but parents are going to have to pay registration fees again - just like we did when they were 8 yrs. old.

The only potential problem that I see is that the schools are probably going to try and find a way to support the football team. It's the big one, but I hate seeing them sacrifice the other sports to keep the giant going. I played football and golf in HS, and I can't imagine looking back at that and not having the latter. Football was fun, but golf helped get me to college.

duvaldude08 · March 13, 2011, 04:05:34 PM

Im actually sitting back laughing right. I did not vote for him for obvious reasons. And Im the Scott voter's have the boo boo face right now.

But I would hate to see high schools without sports, music, etc. I mean, what the hell is there left for them to do but get in trouble? This is very sad

Garden guy · March 13, 2011, 04:28:28 PM

Quote from: dougskiles on March 13, 2011, 05:51:24 AM
Sadly, we deserve this. Jacksonville provided much of Scott's support during the election.

If this actually happens, the repercussions will be widespread for our community. Not just the parents and kids. I can't imagine anyone deciding to move here when we are the only city without high school sports.

My guess (and hope) is that we will find some way to keep the sports. But it won't be without a serious fight.

Thank you for mentioning this once more...if this happens maybe the citizens of jacksonville will realize it is taxes alone that keep our society moving....this city and state had detaxified itself into the poor house...and i have to say...the republican party are at the head of the line when it comes to lowering taxes..which means defunding schools. We may want to be worrying about grandma and how she's going to get along with our governor doing this BS.....thanks alot guys....

dougskiles · March 13, 2011, 05:18:02 PM

sanmarcomatt, are you implying that those who are in their 60's and 70's are untouchable in the way they lived their lives and lead our country? Sure, I know people in that generation who I respect for how they lived their lives - but not more so than any generation before or after. I don't buy into the myth that any one generation has been greater than another. Each has had different issues to contend with, and all have been made of human beings who are far from perfect. As time goes by, we like to deify historical figures to make them seem larger than life and infallible. The truth is that they made just as many mistakes as we do today and that our children will make.

Steve_Lovett · March 13, 2011, 05:58:40 PM

Quote from: Clem1029 on March 13, 2011, 10:38:37 AM
I dunno...sounds like the typical posturing that government agencies do all the time. When budgets get cut, say the most popular things are what have to go instead of making real budget decisions that might impact their little fiefdoms. Wait for the public outcry, and viola, magically there are no more budget cuts.

Even if it is posturing, the fact that it's a front page story and in everyone's conversation today isn't helpful. It's been picked up in national publications and boards/forums. I'm afraid the message and perception on this issue about Jacksonville is set, even if the outcome is eventually resolved.

And the message doesn't speak well to Jacksonville's quality of life, and isn't beneficial to attracting and retaining an educated workforce.

jandar · March 13, 2011, 06:26:32 PM

And people wonder why I chose to move to clay and bring my kid up in a better school system.

Duval County school system has always spent too much on too little.
Sell the school board building on the river, raise a few dollars that way. Do these part timers need to have riverfront views? Speaking of part-timers, is it wise to pay 38K or more with pension to these part time employees?

Seriously, go take a look at technologies used in the classroom, the inner city schools are neglected compared to mandarin and southside and beaches schools.