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Board questions athletic supplement increases as travel costs rise with reclassification
Summary
District staff proposed roughly $175,000 in year‑over‑year athletic increases (about $89,000 in supplements and $85,000 in supply/equipment); board members asked for line‑by‑line backup and expressed concern about adding positions while travel costs are expected to increase.
During the budget workshop, Mr. Pettit outlined proposed athletic increases for FY27 totaling about $175,000: $89,000 to expand and adjust supplement schedules (adding assistant positions for tennis and swim, raising some existing supplements and playoff bonuses) and $85,000 for supply and equipment increases, which cover uniforms, helmet upgrades, travel, officials and tournament fees.
Pettit provided some detail: two tennis assistant positions and a swim assistant at roughly $2,500 each, a $20,000 playoff bonus adjustment, and incremental adjustments to wrestling, football and other supplements. "Playoff bonuses is 20,000 of that," Pettit said when describing the composition of the $89,000 figure.
Board members pushed for a clear accounting. Mr. Padgett and others asked for an itemized list of supplements and year‑to‑year comparisons; Pettit agreed to deliver a full breakdown after the meeting. Mr. Pettit also said the district plans to reallocate some athletics line items into the general fund to allow programs to raise revenue locally rather than rely entirely on district subsidies.
Several board members questioned adding coaching positions at a time when travel costs are expected to increase as schools shift classifications. "I don't want nobody to misunderstand me. But, adding positions that don't need to be added — we don't need to do that," Mr. Shippey said, urging caution given rising gas and bus costs as Blacksburg and Gaffney change regions.
Dr. Peterson and Mr. Ratt recommended the staff include per‑athlete and year‑by‑year spending comparisons to help the board evaluate cost‑effectiveness. Pettit said the athletic budget breakout will separate the two high schools so the board can see the districtwide picture and the requested backup will be provided ahead of the May first reading.
No votes were taken on athletic items at the workshop; the board asked staff to return with the requested detail before any formal action.
