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Despite the impending crunch on many schools from the nation’s economic woes, Bethel Public Schools athletic director Tommy Block believes that all Wildcat sports programs will fare well in the coming academic year.
No talks have been held regarding the need for budget cuts, schedule cuts or other financial adjustments, Block said, and all programs are set to move ahead on a normal basis.
“We haven’t had to make any changes at the moment, and right now I don’t think we’re going to have to,” Block said. “We’re all right.”
Schools in New York, California and Florida are feeling the strain as athletic schedules are shortened, and in some cases coaching stipends are being eliminated. The school system in Santa Fe, N.M., rather than making middle school programs a club-team format, opted to eliminate two high school athletic managers positions.
Schedule changes being implemented elsewhere include the potential removal of some games. Block said no such action will be taken in the foreseeable future in Bethel, and all road games will be played despite the recent rise in fuel prices.
“Most of our games are not too far off anyway,” Block said, adding that the football team’s lengthiest trip this season should be no more than an hour drive. The Wildcats opened their 2008 campaign with a road trip to Lone Grove, which is west of Ardmore, but the Longhorns will come to Bethel this year, he said.
When the price of gas approached $4 per gallon, school officials kept a close eye on travel distances, Block said. The recent rise in costs has not caused any alarm.
“It’s gone back up, but not as much,” Block said. “At the moment, we’re OK.”
Bethel athletic booster clubs provide much help to the financial needs of the sports programs, Block said, and the softball boosters will provide the players with new uniforms in the upcoming school year. The school has purchased new football uniforms as well, Block said, adding that it was time for replacements.
“At the moment, we’re OK. Hopefully that will continue,” he said. “Just like anybody else, we watch what we spend.”
Despite the impending crunch on many schools from the nation’s economic woes, Bethel Public Schools athletic director Tommy Block believes that all Wildcat sports programs will fare well in the coming academic year.
No talks have been held regarding the need for budget cuts, schedule cuts or other financial adjustments, Block said, and all programs are set to move ahead on a normal basis.
“We haven’t had to make any changes at the moment, and right now I don’t think we’re going to have to,” Block said. “We’re all right.”
Schools in New York, California and Florida are feeling the strain as athletic schedules are shortened, and in some cases coaching stipends are being eliminated. The school system in Santa Fe, N.M., rather than making middle school programs a club-team format, opted to eliminate two high school athletic managers positions.
Schedule changes being implemented elsewhere include the potential removal of some games. Block said no such action will be taken in the foreseeable future in Bethel, and all road games will be played despite the recent rise in fuel prices.
“Most of our games are not too far off anyway,” Block said, adding that the football team’s lengthiest trip this season should be no more than an hour drive. The Wildcats opened their 2008 campaign with a road trip to Lone Grove, which is west of Ardmore, but the Longhorns will come to Bethel this year, he said.
When the price of gas approached $4 per gallon, school officials kept a close eye on travel distances, Block said. The recent rise in costs has not caused any alarm.
“It’s gone back up, but not as much,” Block said. “At the moment, we’re OK.”
Bethel athletic booster clubs provide much help to the financial needs of the sports programs, Block said, and the softball boosters will provide the players with new uniforms in the upcoming school year. The school has purchased new football uniforms as well, Block said, adding that it was time for replacements.
“At the moment, we’re OK. Hopefully that will continue,” he said. “Just like anybody else, we watch what we spend.”
