"Our Cup Is Half Full"

This letter is for the students at CA Jacobs & DHS, the community of Dixon, to our Capital Valley Conference members and to surrounding communities and members of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section. The purpose of this letter is to explain our budget crisis and to assure YOU that we will have sports at CA Jacobs and DHS for the 2009 – 2010 school year.

Why did the DUSD Board of Education vote to eliminate sports at CA Jacobs and DHS?

On Thursday, February 19, 2009 the DUSD Board of Education voted to eliminate all extra-curricular sports within the DUSD. In addition to eliminating sports, the Board also voted to move the district’s continuation school (Maine Prairie) to the DHS campus, close the Options Center and Independent Study program and close another elementary school (the first was closed prior to the current school year). Because of statewide budget reductions in education ($5.2 billion), all school districts throughout the state must make budget reductions. The DUSD faces even deeper cuts than most districts, because we entered the school year without the state mandated 3% reserve in district funds. On Thursday night, our Board had to demonstrate to the Solano County Office of Education an additional $1 million dollars in budget reductions from our "unrestricted" budget to reach the goal of $3 million in reductions. With few areas within the "unrestricted" budget to reduce expenditures, the Board was forced to eliminate sports. In all, the Board has made $5.3 million in reductions, with some funds earmarked from "restricted" funds. "Restricted" funds are categorical monies issued from the state to districts for specific programs (i.e. Special Education, Title I, etc…). The hope is that the state will allow flexibility in transferring funds from "restricted" funds to "unrestricted" accounts. This flexibility is what would allow the Board to reinstate programs that were eliminated when using only "unrestricted" dollars. In addition, the hope is that possible federal dollars from the Stimulus Plan will find their way to the state and eventually into local hands within the next school year. The belief by many is that federal dollars issued to states will be used to offset deficits at the state level and thus not reach the local level.

What does eliminating sports mean?

It means that all financial support from the DUSD in the form of grounds, custodial, electrical (lights), equipment & uniform allocations, coaching stipends and transportation would be cut. The superintendent has listed this financial reduction at $243,000 dollars.

Prior to the Board meeting on 2/19/09, the athletic directors, some coaches and concerned parents from CA Jacobs and DHS held public meetings anticipating budget reductions in our athletic program. A small contingent also met with our superintendent, Roger Halberg, and thoroughly reviewed the District budget. Our committee (Athletic Budget Advisory) drafted a series of proposals, sending one to Mr. Halberg seeking a "positive resolution" (meaning maintaining sports) to our budget crisis trying to avoid the elimination of all sports at CA Jacobs and DHS.

What YOU can do is stay actively involved in the process of having sports reinstated in the DUSD. Within the next week or so, the DUSD will conduct a survey asking the community to rank order the reinstatement of programs that were eliminated Thursday night, provided funds become available. The survey will be sent home with students, but can be conducted online by going to www.dixonusd.org. We will keep you informed of all meetings and updates on two Web sites: (DHS) http://dhs.dixonusd.org and www.dixonrams.com (football).

In addition, we need YOU to spread the word that we will have sports at both CA Jacobs and DHS next year. Our goal is to reinstate ALL sports at both CA Jacobs and DHS. It is possible that we may suspend lower level programs (7th and 9th grade – they may have to play at a higher level 8th grade or JV), but ALL sports will be reinstated. No minor sports will be cut. We will adhere to all Title IX requirements. There is a strong possibility that we will see scaled back schedules. With officiating and transportation expenses being very high, our first obligation is our League and Section Playoff schedules.

With the reduction in District dollars, ALL sports will have a bigger burden of raising funds for their programs. This includes monies for, but is not limited to: coaching stipends, uniform and equipment costs and transportation. It is possible that we may also have to raise funds for officiating costs. Football carries the burden for most programs annually. Parents/Guardians and Families are going to have to become more actively involved and the burden of costs will rise for all involved – there are no options.

The Athletic Budget Advisory Committee will work closely with the superintendent and Board monitoring both Federal and State budget allocations. Our goal is to arrive at a "POSITIVE RESOLUTION" to our crisis. It will require TRUST! It is also important that some of our more established long time community members rekindle their relationship with CAJ & DHS. WE need your support, help and experience with this crisis.

WE need creative ideas and financial suggestions from ALL people within the community. Please e-mail your ideas to Tom Crumpacker; A.D. at DHS – tcrumpacker@dixonusd.org .

Despite what you have heard in the press, both CA Jacobs and Dixon High School will have sports next year. When our coaches from all sports contact you for preseason contests or matches, please entertain putting us on your schedules.

Respectfully submitted;

Tom Crumpacker; Athletic Director at Dixon High School

"Our Cup Is Half Full" – There will be a Positive Resolution – Go Rams!