Athletics budget: Kings Park to keep Huddle streaming, consider new scoreboard and combined girls bowling

Kings Park officials told the board Feb. 9 they recommend continuing key athletics services and replacing aging equipment as part of next year’s budget.

Athletics presenter Mr. Denniston said the district currently sponsors about 63–64 teams across high school and middle school levels and reported that roughly 860 students in grades 7–12 participated in at least one sport last year, representing about 68 percent of that cohort. He outlined several budget increases in equipment, officials’ fees and physician fees (the district is searching for a new school medical director) and said the athletic budget would support continuing an in‑house athletic trainer and the Huddle live‑streaming/coaching platform.

"This budget supports Huddle," Mr. Denniston said, explaining that the district uses Huddle to live‑stream games and allow coaches to review footage; the board was asked to continue the subscription.

The athletics presentation also included a recommendation to replace the stadium scoreboard, with a complete takedown and relocation estimated in the neighborhood of $40,000. Mr. Denniston said the current scoreboard is roughly 15 years old and failed during a recent varsity soccer game. Repositioning the board will also allow the field‑camera to capture the scoreboard for live streams and replays.

The presenter said the budget would also fund a proposed combined varsity girls bowling team with Smithtown, pending budget approval and final agreements.

The board discussed the proposals but did not vote on these athletics capital items at the Feb. 9 meeting; final funding decisions will come through the budget adoption process.