As of lately, students have noticed certain sports teams at Garfield receive new uniforms each season, whereas other teams host their own fundraisers to simply charter a bus. It’s not news to Garfield’s student athletes that sports funding is often tight, but the dispersal of funds can wind up inequitable in various sports. Mr. Englund, the new sports director at Garfield, is still figuring out how to divide up the funding, “there are 3 main sources for athletics funding at Garfield: district support, ASB fees and booster clubs. The amount of support from each pool varies between sports due to a variety of factors.” Englund said. The system set by the district does not ensure equal support, which could leave some sports falling through the cracks.
While some sports appear to have the upper hand, Englund explicitly takes measures to avoid inequalities, saying, “football and basketball are considered revenue sports as there is a ticket cost to attend games.” He continues, “Other sports tend to have slightly less facility and equipment demands, but this does not mean that they receive inequitable funding.”
Although fair funding is prioritized at Garfield, many student athletes still feel they have gotten the short end of the stick. “one of the most expensive sports you can play is golf, especially when you have to buy your own clubs,” explains Estella Berg, Garfield’s golf team co-captain. “I’ve heard that if you can’t afford clubs Garfield will provide them, but no one has done that.” One of the biggest factors that goes into sports funding is transportation costs, with chartering buses costing upwards of $500 an hour. “travel costs are one of our biggest challenges. The school district provides us with a budget for the year, and it becomes mine and the coaches’ job to distribute these funds.” Englund said. Even with careful budgeting, it seems some less popular teams receive a smaller share of transportation support. “basically, every match I drive myself to, and to Jefferson Park every day for practice.” Berg said in regard to the effect on the team.
While Garfield continues to navigate athletic funding, many students hope for an approach that ensures all teams have the resources they need to succeed.
The current structure, shaped by inconsistent support from the district, student fees, and ticket costs often leaves some teams to fend for themselves. While Garfield’s community continues to navigate athletic funding, many student athletes hope for a transparent and balanced approach that ensures all teams have the resources they need to succeed.
