Parents and community members ask board to review inequitable funding for track and field meets
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Summary
Community members said Moorestown High School’s track and cross‑country programs lack school‑paid meets and rely on booster fundraising; they urged the board to direct the athletic director and administration to review per‑athlete spending and coach‑to‑athlete ratios to ensure parity across sports.
Several parents and community members told the Moorestown Township Public School District board on March 17 that track and cross‑country athletes are not getting equitable access to competitions because the district’s athletic budget does not cover regular‑season meets for those programs.
“We can’t even afford enough meets for our athletes to compete,” said Matt Kane, a community member, describing a situation in which boosters and parents must raise money to pay meet fees that other sports have the district pay for.
Allison Simpson, a resident who helped press for reinstating winter track in previous years, asked the board to request specific data from the athletic director: “What amount of budget dollars are spent per athlete per sport, and is it equitable across sports? And what is the coach‑to‑athlete ratio?” she asked.
Speakers noted that track tends to be one of the most inclusive programs and that limited meet participation restricts opportunities for hundreds of students who train but do not get to compete. Several asked the board to ask the administration to explore internal budget adjustments to support more meets without requiring a supplemental appropriation.
Board members did not take an immediate vote on the request but acknowledged the concerns and said they would direct staff to review the questions and report back at the appropriate committee or meeting.