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McFarland High School athletics reports steady participation, rising costs for equipment and reconditioning
Summary
Athletic director presented three-year participation totals across seasons, budget pressures (helmet costs, reconditioning), use of booster and Spartan sponsor funds, and recent team successes including state championships and sectional appearances.
A representative of the McFarland High School athletic department updated the board on participation, budgets and recent team accomplishments, reporting steady three‑year participation trends and rising operational costs for equipment and reconditioning.
The athletic presenter described fall, winter and spring rosters for programs that include football, soccer, cross country, volleyball, basketball, hockey, wrestling, lacrosse (co‑op with Oregon), baseball, softball, track and field, and several club activities such as ultimate frisbee and boys volleyball as a club. The report included grade‑level breakdowns, manager counts and three‑year participation snapshots; the presenter said participation changes often reflect enrollment cohorts (for example, a larger cohort of boys in one graduating class increased participation for certain seasons).
On finances, the athletic presenter said major costs include coaching salaries, transportation, officials’ fees, equipment and athletic training services. He said a new football helmet costs about $385 (larger sizes higher) and that helmets follow a 10‑year replacement cycle with required reconditioning roughly every other year; reconditioning costs were cited in the $35–$42 range per helmet depending on repairs. The department recently added a football helmet reconditioning fee to registration to help cover those costs.
The athletic department works with school booster accounts and Spartan sponsor fundraising—proceeds from these accounts have helped cover uniforms and program needs. The presenter said the district placed a partial freeze on uniform purchases this year to manage the budget but hopes to restore uniform funding to the athletic budget in future years.
The presentation listed athletic highlights from the year: boys swimming back‑to‑back Division 2 state championships, a Division 2 jazz dance state championship, boys hockey reaching the state semifinals, volleyball and boys basketball regionals, girls track sectional championship, boys 3,200m relay state champions, and multiple sectional or regional appearances across sports. The presenter added that hosting large events—Badger Girls Tennis Tournament and Division 2 swim sectional—brings community visitors and modest revenue while increasing community exposure.
Board members asked about academic eligibility and attrition; the athletic presenter said academic ineligibility removals were minimal and most ineligibility issues were incomplete grades resolved within district policy timelines. He also outlined how fee waivers work: families who qualify for free and reduced-price meals and check the athletics box in Infinite Campus have registration fees automatically waived; the athletic department also works with Spartan sponsor funds and local donors to assist families who have trouble paying fees.
Board members thanked the athletic staff and suggested making this report regular.
