Water polo parents drowning in fees

Published 1:30 am Thursday, August 26, 2021

Supporters showed a wave of support for the Bainbridge High School water polo club as they flooded the school board chambers Thursday night.

It may seem hard to believe – especially since the U.S. women just won their third-straight gold medal at the Summer Olympics – but what they want is recognition.

Because it is a club rather than a recognized BHS sport, water polo members likely will have to pay $1,029 each, compared with $250 if it was a school-sponsored sport, like swimming, which many of the members also are a part of.

Also at the meeting the school board passed its $59.6 million budget, extended school district superintendent Peter Bang-Knudsen’s contract, and discussed school attire and fees.

Apparently water polo was recognized as a school sport for 30 years until in 2017 it was not because of cost and liability concerns.

Bang-Knudsen, who was on the water polo team at BHS years ago, said no club sports – such as lacrosse, pickleball, mountain biking and rowing – are officially sponsored by the district.

“We can’t sponsor them all,” he said, adding it hadn’t been an issue until this year when the Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation District decided since water polo wasn’t a school-sanctioned sport it would be charged separately $12,000 a year.

The girls team was 9-2 last year, while the boys team was 11-0, beating defending state champion Curtis twice.

Parent Raelene Rossart, who is on the water polo board, said without the district’s help, she’s afraid the pool fee increase will “kill the girls’ program.” She said with the district’s help, it would cost $677 per athlete and without $1,029.

One player said turnouts are smaller this year because of the added cost.

Parent Jason Caroll said he doesn’t know why the district can’t support the water polo team like it had the previous 30 years. He said teams in less-privileged districts find ways to support their teams. Plus he said head coach Kristin Gellert has been named Coach of the Year and makes her players respond in and out of the water.

Gellert, who is in her ninth year as head coach of both teams, said her program is built on community involvement and is one the district can be proud of. She just wants her teams to be supported like they have under previous administrations.

Besides, “a giant trophy we are planning on winning in November can be displayed at the high school trophy case where it will look much better than in my garage.”

Later in the meeting the school board approved fees, including $250 per season for sports and band, and $125 for other extracurricular activities, such as cheerleading and color guard.

The budget

The school board approved the budget in its last meeting before school starts Sept. 1. The news was not good. In just about every aspect of the budget more will be spent than will be brought in. The $59.6 million in spending is about $3.6 million more than will be brought in. About 85% of the budget is for salaries and benefits.

Due mostly to declining enrollement, state funding decreased more than $2.5 million, but still provides 73% of the budget. Because of that and other reasons the district will be down seven teachers. Looking ahead, the district predicts enrollment will continue to drop, meaning revenues will drop so spending also will have to, which means more drops in staff and in the fund balance.

Deputy superintendent Erin Murphy said the federal government provided more money, but state government needs to find a more-equitable way to help districts. “I’m not going to tell you it hasn’t been a challenge,” she said.

Supe report

Bang-Knudsen’s contract was extended through June 30, 2024, at an annual base salary of $199, 207.

He gave his report, again saying the continuing decline in enrollment not only hurts the district but the community as a whole. He said Friday that the district is a major employer on BI, and the decline in the number of students also hurts the economy. He emphasized one of the major reasons people settle here is the outstanding reputation of the schools.

He again challenged the community to address the “housing crisis” on BI. Young families with children can’t afford to live here, leading to the decline in students.

Bang-Knudsen said he is excited for students to return in-person to school. Lots of plans are in place to protect students and staff from COVID-19.

For instance, indoor and outdoor spaces have been created for lunchtime, when students will not have masks on so they need to be 6 feet apart. “That’s a nice option for students to have,” he said, adding in class they only have to be 3 feet apart because they will be wearing masks.

He said because of the Delta variance there definitely has been an increase in COVID. But he said he is proud to say in BI 90% of those ages 12-18 have been vacinated. In all of Kitsap County, that number is about 50%. He said while about 80% of staff has been vaccinated, all must be by Oct. 18, per Gov. Jay Inslee’s order.

Bang-Knudsen said COVID testing sites are available for students and staff. Someone without symptoms can get a rapid test, with results in 15 minutes. Those with symptoms need to stay home, he added.

As he was last year, he said he is concerned about the mental health of students. He said being back in school full-time should help. “In-person socialization is so important,” he said. “They can feel excited about school once again.”

On school buses, students will have seating assignments so if there is a close contact with COVID the district will know who was around that student. Also, students from the same household will be seated together. Buses will not be at full capacity, and windows will be kept down one notch to help with fresh air circulation. Buses will be cleaned between the morning and afternoon runs.

School attire

An agenda item on student dress says: “The primary changes to this policy are a solidification that the purpose of this policy is to support a safe learning environment, to include gang or hate group membership, and to clarify that any student dress concerns would have to be material and substantial to qualify as disruptive.”

It goes on to say, “Prohibited conduct includes the use of lewd, sexual, drug, tobacco or alcohol-related messages or gang-related apparel.”

Finally it says, “Such procedures will ensure that any student wearing, carrying, or displaying gang-related apparel, or exhibiting behavior or gestures which symbolize gang membership, or causing and/or participating in activities which intimidate or affect the attendance of another student will be asked, with notice to his or her parents, to make appropriate corrections and be subjected to discipline if the corrections are not undertaken.”

Finally, donations to the district include $5,000 from Bainbridge Schools Foundation, $2,000 from Clark Construction and a little more than $2,600 from the Wilkes PTO.