#Education
Target:
Bellevue School District
Region:
United States of America

The sport of swimming has been under pressure recently, from not only dealing with reduced pool time for youth programs, but from colleges and universities giving up on their swimming programs. Recent events spurred by our governmental fiscal crisis are affecting swimming and diving, as well as golf, wrestling, and gymnastics, within the Bellevue School District (BSD).

BSD has recently formed a Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) for the purpose of seeking input on additional budget cuts. More information is available at http://www.bsd405.org/.

We take this threat to cut swimming, golf, wrestling, and gymnastics very seriously. If we don’t act, it is a matter of when, not if these programs will be cut, even assuming a higher participation fee (aka "pay-for-play") is instituted for the 2010-2011 school year. Cutting these programs is not a viable option if BSD wishes to maintain its reputation for excellence.

Numerous studies show a quantifiable link between participation in high school athletics and success in school. We would like to work with BSD to preserve these programs and ensure the opportunities for success they offer to all who participate.

We, the undersigned, respectfully ask BSD and the FAC to remove options AA (Eliminate swimming program) and AB (Eliminate specific athletic programs - swimming, golf, wrestling, and gymnastics) from the list of proposed budget cuts.

We further respectfully recommend that BSD and the FAC implement some sort of participation fee (option X or Y) before cutting any athletic program. We invite BSD and the School Board to work cooperatively with us, the members of these sports communities, to secure appropriate funding for these sports and associated facilities.

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The Save Bellevue School District Athletics petition to Bellevue School District was written by Scott Allen and is in the category Education at GoPetition.