The Shoreline School District will be suspending C Team athletic programs indefinitely beginning with the 2007 fall sport season. This is a result of the District’s current financial situation and the need to reduce expenditures for 2007-08.
Over the past two years, the District has made more than $7.1 million in reductions as it moves toward a balanced 2007-08 budget. This is the first reduction made to the Shoreline athletic programs.
The District’s other athletic programs are not affected. This includes all varsity and junior varsity programs. In addition, all existing freshman (9th grade) teams in football, volleyball and boys and girls basketball will continue.
The District made the decision in consultation with the Shoreline Athletics and Activities Association, the bargaining group for District coaches. A provision in the contract agreement with SAAA states that C teams are dependent on District funding.
During the 2006-07 school year, C teams competed in boys and girls soccer at Shorecrest and Shorewood, baseball at both high schools, and girls tennis at Shorecrest. C teams were first added to the Shoreline athletic program for the 2000-2001 school year. Due to the fact that many schools in our league do not offer C teams, Shoreline has been required to transport students large distances over the past few years, in order to schedule competitions. With the escalating costs of transportation, drivers and fuel, this has increased costs significantly.
“It is the District’s intention to revisit this decision when our fiscal health has been restored,” said Don Dalziel, Shoreline Schools athletic director.
Below are pdfs detailing the history of C teams in Shoreline, other WESCO schools offering C teams, and the number of participants by sport at Shorecrest and Shorewood.