Next on the chopping block

By Shriya Adhikary

As Fairfax County Public Schools face the possibility of large cuts on school programs and activities for fiscal year 2010, the worsening economic crisis is sparing no one. Among the proposed budget cuts being made to alleviate the current $220 million budget deficit is the elimination of certain sports, most specifically girls' gymnastics.

"There's a 99.9 percent chance that girls' gymnastics will be cut next year," said Angelo Hilios, Director of Student Activities.

Eliminating girls' gymnastics is part of the first-tier of cuts proposed by Superintendent Jack Dale after considering costs of the sport versus the number of participants.

"It's not fair," said gymnast senior Sasha Thomas. "Just because the team doesn't get enough members doesn't mean it's not good."

Over the last five years, the highest number of female athletes on the AHS varsity girls' gymnastics team has been six. This year's team has five female athletes.

"It all has to do with the numbers. It costs the county over $4,000 per year to support only five of our girls, even though we share our coach and practice space with Lake Braddock," said Hilios. The AHS gymnastics team practices together with the Lake Braddock, Woodson and Falls Church girls' teams.

"We all practice together and help each other out a lot," said sophomore Anne-Marie Weiner, who joined the team for the first time this year. "I am mad that they are going to cut gymnastics next year. Not everyone who can do gymnastics can afford to be on a club team."

Weiner's sentiments are shared by all of the girls on her team. "I am really mad about this. They already don't pay for anything. We have to support our own supplies and we use uniforms that have been used for who knows how many years. So the only thing they spent on us were uniforms they bought years ago. We don't even have our own bus. We share with the swim team," said Thomas.

The proposed cuts would save Fairfax County an estimated $221,000 and affect around 125 female athletes and their coaches. If the budget passes in May of 2009, all gymnastics program that are supported by the county will be eliminated.

However, the girls wish that a different approach could be taken rather than simply cutting out gymnastics from the school program.

"I propose that we have to pay for it. That way we will be happy and so will the school board," said sophomore Adrienne Williams.

"I just think that Fairfax County should cut other things but not sports or after school activities along with teachers. It was their problem that they didn't know how to handle the budget and they should have had a plan for when this happens," said Weiner.

The last time FCPS experienced cuts on school sports was during the economic decline of the early 1990s. At that time, the number of events that certain sports teams could participate in, especially at the freshman and junior varsity level, was reduced to save costs.

"Of course no activities director wants to see programs being cut, but this is the reality due to the economic situation and the financial problems the county is facing," said Hilios.

However, the effects of the financial crisis will not end with the elimination of girls' gymnastics. Other programs are also being evaluated for elimination, such as winter track.

"Around 180 students participate in winter track which is a substantial amount, but we also have to pay rent for the space we use, so we have to take all that into consideration before we decide what to do," said Hilios.

Right now, the athletes in the varsity girls' gymnastics team are simply trying to enjoy the time they have, despite fears that they won't be able to participate in the sport they love next year.

By Alan Weintraut |  January 12, 2009; 12:51 PM ET
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