THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508230149
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
At a time when some schools are adding sports programs, there is a concern about adequate funding for athletic competition already in progress at Portsmouth schools.
The 1995-96 season will be the last in the Southeastern District for the three city schools. Norcom, Wilson and Churchland apparently are headed into the Eastern District next year with the five Norfolk schools.
Hopefully future schedules can be structured to continue many of the Portsmouth-Chesapeake rivalries that have produced the major gates.
At the Portsmouth Sports Club Monday Raymond Hale, Churchland's principal and the chairman of the 38-school Eastern Region, pointed out a possibility of the revenue problem at the outset of the new school alignments.
``Our best gates are with long traditional rivals,'' Hale pointed out. ``We stand to lose financially. If there is a revenue problem, we will have to do away with some sports.
``This does concern me because it has been well documented that generally kids who take part in extracurricular activities do better in the classroom than those who do not participate.
``But if we don't get more money coming in, we will have a problem.''
Hale said he had been approached by individuals interested in expanding the athletic programs, adding varsity boys volleyball and junior varsity soccer.
``Right now we have income coming from football, basketball and wrestling. We don't charge for many of the minor sports we put on.
``Basically we get a sum of money to operate our extracurricular activities and must raise the rest through ticket sales and fund-raisers.
``I personally feel there is too much fund raising going on by the kids, such as selling doughnuts. But we are at a point where we need more money or play less sports.''
With the closing of Cradock and the demolition of Frank D. Lawrence Stadium, Churchland now has the only football stadium in the city.
The three high schools will be playing all their home games at Churchland Stadium this fall.
``Actually we have worked out a pretty good schedule,'' said Hale. ``There's just a game or two on Thursday nights and a few games on Saturday. The rest are Friday night.
``But what if we have rain? If it rains, we'll probably play in the rain.
``And that will be another revenue problem.
``Down the road,'' said Hale, ``we could have some hard decisions to be made.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Hale
by CNB