George, get a grip. The media needs to do its job in a much better way if this country is to heal

History teaches prudent lesson on Pitt stadium. Hey Brian O'Neill

PG, April 4, 1999

Brian O'Neill Column

History teaches prudent lesson on Pitt stadium

"Pitt stadium will be razed..."

Sorry to see you feeding into the "done deal mentality." And, its nine-time national champions, not six.

Some of the mentions in the opinion article include:

• money corrupting games
• venerable structure
• tradition
• there was no innocent days of yore!
• obscure novel, Stadium, 1931

Listen:

1. Pitt Stadium was built with bonds. Big deal. Lots of businesses and buildings are built with bonds.

2. "The students, fervid old grads and townspeople who had nothing else to do, came to the stadium on Saturday afternoons, but seldom with enthusiasm."

   Yea. Yawn. So what is the point. The fans are not going to get excited when the home team losses all national significance. This is a timeless understanding. People would rather win than not.

Productive people don't spectate, they live

Pittsburgh should cater to the busy people in our communities, and not spectators anway. We, the citizens, want among other things, more spaces to engage with one another. These are high-level playgrounds. We like the idea of sports performance complexes, but they need to server citizens with much better cost/benefits.

One can live while in the role of a spectator too. In the stands one can build releationships. One can also appreciate a struggle of time, space and releationship in others, and learn for themselves.

Desirable for Bettering Releationships

Pitt needs students, old grads and idle townspeople to come to its campus on Saturdays. Pitt does not need empty seats on the North Side on Saturdays.

The Game and the Process of Games

The NCAA handbook has swelled in size from the times of Sutherland. Pay to players was not formalized in scholarships as it is today. Pay to players is nothing new. Scholarships of this era are under the table too, as they are not out in the open. Ask a coach or the athletic department to publish their scholarship levels telling who is funded and to what level. Ask a baseball coach, or a sports coach with another cap on scholarships if those numbers are public knowledge, and they are not. There are privacy reasons, sure. But todays ills are the same as those of the past. Scholarships are given and taken in an under-the-table maner as they are not out in the open. These scholarships are formalized and legal documents, but are not out in the open on the top of the table for sure.

Purity

Who said anyting about being pure? Why not argue and refute virginity as a reason to raze Pitt Stadium. The Brian goes on to write, "Better players engorged the stadium." Snicker. Seems you do have a dirty thought -- engorged!

Beano Cook

Beano is a pigskin prognosticator of national stature, and that makes him a gambling advocate, in turn less pure, in turn of under-the-table transactions. To say what Beano says is anything but a "gambling" perspective is unwise. If Beano says Pitt should move to the new Steelers stadium, I'm of a heart to say that the move should not happen all the stronger. You are talking out of both sides of your mouth. Just above you had a purity thread, and then below you switch to a source of the worst kind for purity.

Beano = Gambling
Gambling = Not Pure
Beano = Raze Pitt Stadium

I say do the inverse of what Beano says. For example: The CHOKE folks worked withing the system with the County Health Department to prohibit the opening of a new coke plant in Hazelwood. The Health Department uses consultants who are engineers who get paid by the polluters. Its the corporations that spend to keep their operations alive. Beano Cook is one of the polluters in sports today. His opinion has an inverse effect on what is right. He is biased won't say anything otherwise to go counter to the "done-deal mentality."

Same to with the PG. Thanks for helping in the arguements to keep Pitt Stadium.

Case in point: I've talked to a number of journalists and reporters in Pittsburgh in the past months. More and a couple have told me that they think that the closing of Pitt Stadium is a terrible idea. They are dead-set against it. However, they don't want to loose their jobs. They don't want to loose press-passes once the new stadium opens. They do not want to buck up against these vindictive leaders who are on the other side of the arguement.

Sad for them. Sad for us. Sad for my neighbors too.

---

Gambling Stinks

Think of it in a perspective of the definition of sports as advocated here. Sports are games of time, space and releationship. Gambling is not a releationship builder. Gambling is not a space sensative activity, as it happens around the world. And, gambling is not much of a time game either. Gambling is anti-sport as it sets out to lessen all values of the game, time, space and releationships. Gamblers can't even bet upon who is going to win -- there are "favorites" and they change the rules of the games themselves as a team can win by 2 points -- and not cover the spread. How defeating.

Gambling is not sports and it greatly hurts sports.

Tainted but Valid Somewhere

Beano is a Pitt grad. Beano is a friend of Pitt and Pittsburgh. Beano has many releationships that might have some roots due to sports. There is much to build upon there, to make a sports person's opinion ring true, but the tainting is going to take great amounts of drilling to get to the sports person within Beano.

Youth Jobs deadline and a big story request from Mark@Rauterkus.com

Hi Friends and Fellow Travelers in these times of Protests and a Global Pandemic:

CYBER SWIM CAMP as part of Pittsburgh Public Schools Summer Dreamers should deliver 27 days of literacy, math and swimming -- all from the comfort of your living room. All virtual.

HELP! This is my call to you and yours -- as we want to have "STORY TIME" as part of our CYBER SWIM CAMP for 4th and 5th graders. I hope to collect 30 or more, 5-minute stories with something to do about water. 

Can you share a story, please?

Story should have a start, middle and end. Use your phone record it. Don't need any slides, just a story that can keep the attention of the students and be a launch point for more discussions about vocabulary, challenges, water, safety, fun, by-gone days, whatever.

Example stories are assembled at https://S6.CLOH.org/category/story

Deadline for families in the city schools to apply for that program (up to grade 5) is pressing in the next hours. 

https://www.pghschools.org/summerdreamers  

- - - -

Youth in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County have one more day to finish their applications for the job program targeted to income qualified individuals giving 6 weeks of work at 25-hours at minimum wage. Age range is 14-21. Deadline pushed to June 6, 2020. 

The number of applications might be at an all time low as it has been hard to reach and obtain the applications to work from the students without school visits.

https://Partners4Work.org

I was hoping to get some youth, especially athletes, interested in work with me and my digital projects with publishing content on swimming, sports, fitness and wellness at web pages, their own sites, collaborative concept maps, and more. https://Earn.CLOH.org. 

Lifeguard training should be in high gear, but we all know that's off for now. As guard and training opportunities arise, I'll post at https://Guard.4Rs.org, or email me.

Without swim pools, many turn to OPEN WATER SWIMMING. See my feature for the International Swim Coaches Association.

https://Blog.SwimISCA.org/open-water-swimming-feature/

Primary election day and a peaceful protest merged this week. Its been 19 years since I was first on the ballot as a candidate for mayor. Short reflections on Facebook or at https://rauterkus.com/election-day-and-a-flashback-to-a-campaign-from-19-years-ago/

Please stay safe this summer.

Call or email if you want help in getting us a recorded story.

Hey Sister! Invites to engage from China to Seattle to Pittsburgh -- by way of a WATER Safety, SKWIM and Study Trips

Hi All,

Lots to do and talk about from China to Seattle to Pittsburgh -- by way of a WATER Safety Outreach effort.

1)

From 3-4 pm on Saturday, May 5, at the meeting room in the Squirrel Hill Branch of the Carnegie Library, corner of Murray Ave and Forbes, we're calling a BRAINSTORMING Meeting in advance of a pending 2-3 week trip to Pittsburgh this summer for up to 25 youngsters from Pittsburgh Sister City in China.

Got ideas? Input welcomed. Kids are expected to be ages 10 to 16. Many will travel with an adult guardian. 

There is a new push in China's educational efforts for "study trips" for kids. Learn about this and our connections at this open community meeting while Li, the CEO of the education company in China is in Pittsburgh.

https://help.cloh.org/archives/551

2) 

From 8:30 to 11:30 for adults and from 11:30 to 1 pm on Saturday, May 5, and the other Saturdays in May except on Memorial Day Weekend, all are invited to the Saturday Swim School at northside's Oliver High School. https://Swim.CLOH.org/saturdays/ 

We had a great time this past weekend with members of the Pittsburgh Triathlon Club. Plenty of room for training or to sharpen your water skills in advance of summer. 

3)

Lifeguards are in high demand. Citiparks needs to hire 50+. The Pittsburgh Project needs to hire 7. Another local university needs to hire more than 5. We've been training guards at the Saturday Swim School and Citiparks beings a new class on May 8, Tue & Thurs. 

I also need junior guards and swim instructors. Volunteer, apply, help:

https://guard.cloh.org/need-a-lifeguard-or-two-and-some-swim-instructors-for-swim-water-polo-at-u-prep/

4)

We get to make a presentation on Tuesday in Seattle to Washington Recreation and Parks Association Conference, on water safety, SKWIM is the name of the game. 

Tuesday evening we do a demonstration game with staff and swim team / swim lesson participants at the JCC in Seattle. 

Wednesday evening we take SKWIM to the North Shore Lagoon Swimming Pool at Anderson School in Bothell, Washington. 

https://www.mcmenamins.com/anderson-school/north-shore-lagoon-swimming-pool

5) 

A splendid Water Safety Outreach program for the region is being crafted for this summer. We're looking for a title sponsor and teams, swim pools, camps, scout groups and other individuals to participate. Send me an email or text message now if you want to get involved on the ground floor, or come to any of the next two Saturday Swim School for more insights in person. 

Fwd: Crisis in the water --- and you're invited to the Saturday Swim School this week

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Mark Rauterkus 

To: 412-public-news

Hi All, near and far!

We've got a crisis -- or a few of them -- in our future.

#1. Global engagement and fitness with kids seems to be in a decline.

A great commentary was published in Swimming World magazine about the crisis in a favorite domain of mine, competitive swimming. 

From the international to the local scene, we need to evolve our interactions with our youth and gather all the support we can muster for our communities. Wellness -- from gun violence to school safety  -- matters. We've got to step up our game in many ways.

Check out my blog post with a pointer to that article on competitive swimming and a follow-up conversation about our one-size-fits-all solution. 

https://swim.cloh.org/2018/03/22/competitive-swimming-is-in-a-crisis-reports-swimming-world-and-wayne-goldsmith/

+ + +

#2. Regional 

If you do nothing else, please click the PETITION directed at the school administrators at Eastern Michigan University who want to cut its super-successful men's swim team.

https://swim.cloh.org/2018/03/21/eastern-michigan-university-gotta-keep-its-great-swimming-and-diving-programs/

+ + +

#3 Local Invite

Adults and high school kids are able to meet me on Saturday from 8:30 am to 11:30 for the Saturday Swim School. 

Kids in middle and elementary school are able to swim from 11:30 to 1 pm. 

https://Swim.CLOH.org/saturdays/

I really want to get the former students of Swim & Water Polo from PPS Summer Dreamers back in the water and playing SKWIM.

There is no charge as this is a labor of love. 

+ + +

#4 Three different Lifeguard Classes have been offered and are filling to capacity, also a part of the Saturday Swim School. https://Guard.CLOH.org to get on the waiting list.

+ + +

#5. We're hiring both kids and adults to help with our summer activities at the pools in the city.

Apply with this google form. https://cloh.org/wp/archives/2050

Gladfly talks about how to oppose without becoming a monster

Another blogger, "Gladfly" wrote something that is a bit odd with this statement:

If we tolerate the intolerant, if we give them equal time to offer their point of view and don’t aggressively counter their views, they will inevitably resort to violence and wipe our side out.

The KEY, IMHO, is the "EQUAL TIME" part. Of course, EQUAL TIME has at its root an AGGRESSIVE COUNTER.

There is a lot of value to EQUAL TIME. If equal time was much more prevalent, then we'd have less troubles. It is much like an escape value.

So, when the race for the US Congress #D18, had closed debates with only Saccone and Lame, the R and the D, but did not include the L -- BIG PROBLEMS. The hope of equal time vanished. The media freeze out of the third party means that the 1-on-1 race can get overly negative.

Furthermore, the folks on the fringe see that the democratic process is hopeless.They don't vote.They further depart normal society. They have grounds to be unto themselves, festering -- and that can easily lead to violence.

Screw you WTAE, KDKA, WESA. The PG too. What they did is not at all close to equal time. Even CNN didn't put the 3rd party candidate's name and vote total on the screen in its election night coverage until that vote total was 2x the margin between the D and R. #FAIL.

Source: https://gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2018/03/17/how-to-oppose-white-supremacists-without-becoming-a-monster-yourself/comment-page-1/#comment-15498 

Public comment to PPS Board from Mark R

http://cloh.org/wp/archives/2002

Also in a PDF, https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sq9OUxW7NpULSOSLky0WYzs9BmYk9AX7

Slide show updated

Public Statements: March 20, 2017 to PPS Board and Administration:

Mark Rauterkus, Varsity Swim Coach, Obama Academy.

I lead Swim & Water Polo after-school programs at Westinghouse (Mondays), Obama (Tuesdays & Thursdays), Allegheny (starting on Wednesdays), Arsenal (starting Fridays). Our Saturday Swim School (Oliver HS pool on the Northside) continues from 9 am to 1 pm (most weeks). At 6 am I'm at Sci-Tech three days a week. I coached Manchester Academic Charter School at the Sarah Heinz House and help with Pittsburgh Masters Water Polo and, of course, PPS Summer Dreamers. This year PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim & Water Polo is at King and U-Prep.

These activities are open to new participants, especially the Saturday Swim School. See my web sites at CLOH.org for details. CLOH = Creating Literate Olympians Here.

As we look to the summer, I'm going to be creating a new swimming, water polo and TRIATHLON team, on the Northside on Charles Street with The Pittsburgh Project.

Kids, adults, teachers, … we're hiring. Some of the varsity swimmers help, but we need about 35 as swim instructors, junior captains, guards, and coaches. Much of this work happens with the help of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, and I'm activity recruiting employees.

Applyat the link at CLOH.org.

News flash:

Earlier this month, an Obama Swimmer, Sead Niksic, junior, set a new WPIAL Record in the class AA 100-yard backstroke. This is the first time a PPS student in any sport broke a WPIAL record. That news got a mentioned on the PPS home page.

All-in-all, our swimmers performed in brilliant fashion at the WPIAL and PIAA meets. After the snow storm, I took three of the Obama students to the PIAA meet. The Obama boys team finished in the top 20 in the state. All of the swimmers set personal and school records.

This was the 9^th consecutive season our PPS kids from Schenley / Obama went to states.

Sead was second in the back and third in the fly. Noah scored 13^th in the 500 free in his first trip to states as a sophomore. Amila, a freshman, dropped an additional 1-second in her backstroke, after getting 2^nd at the WPIAL championships, having been seeded 10^th.

Next news flash:

You, your spouse, coaches, swimmers, lifeguards, PE teachers, and all community members are invited to join in at a seminar and demonstration as well as post-game social to be held in Pittsburgh's South Side starting at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at the historic, Citiparks' Oliver Bath House. Out of town guest include aquatic experts with the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA.org) and Kevin McCarthy of Washington state, inventor of the aquatic game, SKWIM. Bring your swim suit and towel as we will put our PA friends into SKWIM games with opponents from around the nation. We'll learn about this terrific game, talk swimming, and find out what you might want to do to help get our kids swimming, more fit and safer in the water. We need to better utilize our facilities too.

After our time at the Oliver Bath House, all are invited to walk to a post game social starting at 9 pm at our home / office at 108 S. 12th Street, South Side, Pgh 15203.

Gratis Tickets / RSVP at Swim.CLOH.org.

October Reminder

In October 2016, I came to speak. My specific ask was for PPS support for WATER POLO instead of GOLF. The Obama golf team had one kid this year and none have made it to the final city-league match in the past two years. We have dozens of water polo players, and we own the pool. This would be a tremendous help for the students, programs and district in many ways. And, as a switch, it can be “budget neutral.”

I made that request to the board and the top administrators because you are the ones that will have to make it happen.

I find it sad that I have heard nothing about this issue from any of you since then.

Let's fix this for fall 2017.

New & Old Issues:

Furthermore, other matters, not well suited for public comment, need some attention. As we talk about district supported water polo, (we mainly need money for officials, some bus transit to matches and practice times at the school pool), we can share that list. This focused list of suggestions has many repeated requests from the past.  

Blast Email from Friday

* https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/412-public-news/2017-February/000039.html

---

[412-public-news] Outdoor hockey tomorrow - inside your brain hockey today - in the pool next week

Mark Rauterkus mark.rauterkus at gmail.com 
Fri Feb 24 14:43:43 EST 2017

• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

---

Hi All,

Pittsburgh hosts an outdoor hockey game this weekend, and I'm excited to
turn you onto an enriching educational experience from the NHL and Penguins
for youngsters that blends science and math with sports and technology.

You have to check out this Hockey Scholars online course from a firm,
Everfi.

The educational games are authentic to the sport, and it hits close to home
since the NHL's stadium series built a rink, with associated markings,
angles, etc. at Heinz Field. Give it a whirl. I'm pleased enough to
recommend it to you. If you have any youngsters, especially those in the
middle grades, this makes a nice out-of-school-time learning challenge with
a computer.

More insights:
http://play.cloh.org/2017/01/31/nhl-nhlpa-gets-into-stem-with-goals-program/

Our passcode: 36ce56eb
Create an EverFi account the first time by going to
http://www.everfi.com/login and click Register. Then enter 36ce56eb and
click Next.

If you already have an account at Everfi, login to the account and enter
d79ea057 in the top right corner.

More details and those instructions are on the attached, 2-page PDF.


= = Other quick news bites:= =

+ Good luck to the varsity swimmers headed to WPIALs and State
Championships, starting next week for those in PA.

++ Our star city swimmer, defending WPIAL Champion in the fly, Sead, 11th
grade, enters this year's meet as the #1 seed in the backstroke.

+++ The Saturday Swim School resumes in March. We're seeking more
participation at 11:30 am for middle school kids and their mentors /
guardians.

++++ We're hiring and training coaches, captains, lifeguards and swim
instructors for our staff for this summer. Apply.

+++++ My spring after-school swim and water polo schedule includes Mondays
at Westinghouse, Tuesdays & Thursdays at Obama, Wednesdays at Allegheny,
Fridays at Arsenal and Saturdays at Oliver High School.

++++++ Families in Pittsburgh interested in putting their students into PPS
Summer Dreamers should approach their school PRINCIPALS now. The sign-up
process is changing. We'll be offering Swim & Water Polo for 3rd and 4th
graders at U-Prep (Hill District) and King (Northside).

++++++ We're starting a Hybrid SUMMER team with The Pittsburgh Project too.
Swim, Water Polo, SKWIM, Triathlon too. More on that soon.




--
Ta.


Mark Rauterkus       Mark at Rauterkus.com
PPS Summer Dreamers' Swim & Water Polo Camp Executive Coach
Varsity Boys Swim Coach, Pittsburgh Obama Academy
Recent Head Water Polo Coach, Carnegie Mellon University Women's Club Team
Pittsburgh Combined Water Polo Team

http://CLOH.org

412 298 3432 <(412)%20298-3432> = cell

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Hiring the new PPS Superintendent

Hi PPS Board Members.

I have been following this noise about the hiring of Dr. Anthony Hamlet as close as possible and have some suggestions. STICK TO YOUR prior DECISION.

Sure, a storm has come. Blame goes here and there in bits, but golly. Plug ahead.

I feel that saboteurs are trying to derail elected school boards and are trying to damage Pittsburgh Public Schools.

The board voted 9-0 to hire the guy. To change your views now would spoil the desire for others to seek the job. None would want to deal with the mess in this wake, plus deal with a fickle board, nor confront the wire-pulling and outside influence from beyond the school board.

IMHO, two of those claims are bogus fabrications. An open source approach of wikipedia on a definition of terms is desired and should not be original.

There should be some repercussions and remedies. I have made some solution suggestions. Follow my Facebook page and http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com.

Triple his probation period.

Seek a partial refund from the consultant.

Allow for a super MINORITY to terminate his contract within the probation period.

Work harder.

+ +

Final two points:

#1: I volunteer to stand with you or stand alone and talk to the media, the citizens. other politicians, union leaders or anyone else on this topic.

#2: Furthermore, Let's begin again with sports reform, something that did NOT resonate with Dr. Linda Lane, sadly. Teaching our kids how to play well with others isn't an expensive proposition, and it is a great investment if done well. I volunteer to help to re-think the issues with PPS. System-wide athletics, sports, after-school recreation, swimming, student leadership with jobs and after-school technology have pressing issues. The city can't wait to get started on the heavy lifting on those fronts.

Good luck.

Hillary and Bernie

I do not agree with the root message in the article about Hillary finding her HOME RUN MESSAGE against Bernie. But, there is a difference in there between the 2 D candidates. Hillary is far reaching, broad, doing UNIONS in one breath and working for INDIVIDUALS in the next. She wants to help kids in Flint. Rush to help the person who got fired on Monday after that Saturday wedding. She is bouncing around all over the place fighting nose to nose. The problem for Hillary, is that there is only ONE of her. She can't be everywhere. She can't be a 1,000 points of Hillary and help all the ones that need the help.

Meanwhile, I think Sanders is going to wage an attack on a system level. He wasn't on the dang bridge in Selma. Perhaps the Clinton's were able to show their faces in the South. But, when Sanders is President, his JUSTICE REFORM is going to be in the minds of all in the POLICE DEPARTMENT when those marchers cross the next bridge.
Sanders is not going to rush to help a bunch of folks with new pink slips at the factory, and I expect Hillary would be there. But, Sanders trade policies is going to be attacking so that those factories are re-opening and jobs are not going to evaporate as many have done.

In the harbor of life, Hillary is an over-reaching couple of strokes with a paddle as she bounces from deck to deck on many boats. Bernie is a mega tide that lifts all boats. Or, if you want that "protective feeling" -- Bernie Sanders is the break-wall that protects the whole harbor from the storms.

Starting our day at the crack of dawn. I.B. kids can handle the tough "why questions."

Enjoy this little film:



Share it and let me know what you think.

Show Up: The AM Swim Video

Highly competitive swimming helps with school attendance. Don't punish nor eliminate the positive aspects of sports. Rather, promote, facilitate and replicate.

Our swim team t-shirt slogan: “Winning Formula: Show up + Score more points.” Showing up matters. This United Way funded PR blitz with PPS stresses school attendance. Swimmers understand that message and live it.

On many mornings in the past years, 25+ students arrived at the school for 6 AM swim practices. In recent years, the Obama Swim Team has held 6 AM practices every school day (if no 2-hour delay). The 6 am practices often span into the fall and spring too.

At 7:15 am, as swim practice ends, swimmers are at the school. They are present, clean and ready to fuel their bodies and brains. Kids attending AM practice are not tardy for school.

Kids in quality, competitive programs understand that 6 am practices are essential. Champions understand the sacrifices and hard work are worthy. AM swim practices don't happen every where, as not all the teams are doing all they can.

One school day distinction between swimmers and other athletes are AM practices. Many college teams in other sports hold AM practices for their athletes. It would be great to have open gym and weight lifting times at 6 am for students, before school, more often at PPS. Perhaps with the Olympic Sports Division and efforts of PPS H2O, the early bird practices can be with more students, not only swimmers.

Recap: Final Public Hearing for Pittsburgh Public Schools in its Hiring Quest for a New Superintendent.

Replacing the retiring Linda Lane can be an opportunity to recreate Pittsburgh recreation. We're a sports and river town and should use our swim pools.

From Mark Rauterkus, Mark@Rauterkus.com, varsity swim coach at Obama Academy and leader of the PPS Summer Dreamers Swim & Water Polo Camp with the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation


On Thursday night, January 28, 2016, right after our home swim meet at Pittsburgh Obama against South Fayette, I dashed over to U-Prep for the public hearing concerning the search for the new PPS superintendent of schools. We lost the swim meets, but game them a good scare. One new school record was set by Obama sophomore, Sead N, leading off the 400 free relay in a 49.

I was speaker 13 and took some notes as the others before me gave the school board their thoughts. It was wild to hear what the others would say as nearly everyone else had statements that resonated with my message too. What they want, and what I want, are identical in terms of values and vision.

Pittsburgh Public Schools needs to make an overhaul to its sports and after-school programs.

Two years ago, the wake of Doctor Linda Lane's state of the district speech when she said she wanted to cut a number of sports from the budget, I released a position paper. Thankfully, those cuts never occurred. Now that there are some new board members, it is prudent to re-introduce this document again to get them aware of these situations.

http://aforathlete.wikia.com/wiki/Fewer_Sports_Alternatives

When Mark Roosevelt became superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools, a few of us shared concerns with him. Mr. Roosevelt, a former tennis player, understood the value of sports. To his credit, he was in agreement but said sports reform and athletics were not a priority – yet. He had bigger problems: principal accountability, teacher evaluations and contracts, merit pay, and of course, right-sizing. Nothing changed for years. Then, finally, Mark Roosevelt sent me an email around New Years Day and he promised me that sports reform was coming off the back burner. Wow!

A study was done on Title IX, a consultant was hired with grant money. A committee was established and meetings were held. Real issues were talked about. Mark Roosevelt came to a meeting with about 35 people, VIPs in PPS in terms of coaching, sports, security, transportation, administration, principals, and said, “I'm sorry.” Roosevelt apologized for the terrible treatment and lack of support his administration had given throughout the years to sports and athletics. He had seen the light and now understood what was happening with PPS and how many of the pitfalls could be rectified through a more robust attention to these areas. Improvements in school spirit, attendance, grades, student health, graduation rates, discipline and scholarships are evident. I was so excited to hear of the new change in direction and within the month, Mark Roosevelt resigned and took a new job at a college in Ohio.

Linda Lane was hired by the board without interviewing anyone else so as to sustain the changes Mark Roosevelt was championing in PPS. But sadly, she failed and fumbled the whole sports reform movement. She was clueless. She pulled the plug and wouldn't do anything else in this regard except cut and starve.

When Dr. Lane gave her State of the District speech at CAPA in the fall of 2013, she talked about saving $600,000 from a budget by cutting some sports and all intramural programs and upgrading computers less frequently. That's some line item: Sports and technology upgrades for $600,000 savings. That move seemed to be a surprise to everyone, even within PPS, who had worked on sports reform. I pushed back with a position paper, “Fewer sports alternatives,” and the cuts to the budget never materialized, thankfully, due in great part by board members who knew better. Two years later in the fall of 2015, the PA auditor general and city controller told the newspapers of a PPS surplus of more than $120-million. Go figure.

The first suggestion in the position paper reads: PPS Superintendent, Doctor Linda Lane, should re-establish our Athletic Reform Task Force. Suggestion #1b: This position paper can fill the early agenda for task force meetings. Suggestion #1c: The next task force should include a research component. Examine student data along with Pittsburgh Promise data.

Some other of my favorite suggestions to PPS administrators include the establishment of PPS H2O for city-wide aquatics, an All-City Sports Camp from May to September and the formation of a private-public partnership, an Olympic Sports Division, to manage the scholastic sports of Swimming, X-Country, Track-and-Field, Tennis and intramural programs. After a three month wait, I finally did have one 30-minute meeting with Dara Ware Allen, PPS Administrator in charge of all student services (including athletics). She hadn't even read the position paper. No follow up since.

Linda Lane's Administration lacks leadership in terms of sports, after-school and community building – that's my top concern with PPS.

With the superintendent search, and new board members, it is time to double down. I want to re-visit the 2014 position paper and to insure the new PPS Board Members see it. But I am releasing a new document, a new vision. We can build upon our Summer Dreamers experiences with Swim & Water Polo and turn them into Year-Round Achievers. Let's train 250 new lifeguards in the next five years. You know, PPS has 14 indoor swim pools and there was a time a few years ago when every pool was closed all summer long. We ran the numbers, we have the opportunity to train 6,000 students a year in a five-week Swim & Water Polo Camp. We can teach every kid in PPS how to swim. And, we already have these facilities. They are too often closed. And, these plans are affordable. The pools are there. The water awaits. The plans call for no extra time for custodians. Done well, I expect sensational health benefits and community school interactions.

In the final public hearing concerning input for the new superintendent search, I was the 13th speaker. Every other speaker that came to the microphone to share insights had common ground with my central message as well.

Speaker #1 said: Services and support are not in place in PPS.

Speaker #2, a young woman, remembered that the only thing she was jazzed about at Allderdice through 9th, 10th, and 11th grade was her involvement in marching band. That experience kept her going through high school.

Speaker #3 works as a professional in out-of-school time activities as a community-based provider. She wants PPS to embrace partnerships and have that as a skill-set. The new superintendent needs to have a “track record” (pun to me) and display “small wins” in after-school programming. Well, I want big wins.

Speaker #4, an 8th grade student in Higher Achievement, spoke of the need for a fresh environment. In past years I coached water polo with students in Higher Achievement. Of course, that's fresh!

Speaker #5, a 7th grade student, wants communication skills and respect in communities.

Speaker #6, Hill District Economic Council spoke of being healthy. Wishing for transforming students, leadership, innovation. Athletic do that.

Speaker #7, a Pitt Education Professor and a parent spoke about deep and sustaining partnerships. Pittsburgh has an incredibly rich network. Civic and community engagement are needed and golly, she said that PPS often seems as if it does not want input. Spot on!

Speaker #8, Sala Udin, wants to see someone articulate a strategy. That's exactly what the position paper did. That's exactly what the Sports Reform Task Force did. That's what was ignored by PPS. Sala wants a “turn around” and I do too. We'll even teach flip turns! Yes, Sala, Pittsburgh is a segregated city with a large number of poor people. That's why we are excited to do water polo in the Hill District's Ammon Swim Pool again in the summer of 2016 and champion swimming and water polo, activities that don't cost much beyond having swim suits.

Speaker #9 wants community schools and job training for parents. I've been working with the Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, but that's not the social skills job training that is really desired. But the new document speaks of community fitness for the parents and guardians of the students we coach. I want adults to start to train when their kids are youngsters so that a few years later as the kids are in high school we can kayak together in our rivers.

Speaker #10, the President of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers hit a home run and made mention of the word “athletics.” She wants none of this as an “after-thought. Rather, authentic working together is desired. Bravo.

Speaker #11, a U-Prep teacher, Chris, made mention that Pittsburgh has been a sports town with some graduates in the NFL and NBA. Who is going to stand up and take the heat, he asks? I think we teach that in athletics too.

Speaker #12, Fred Logan of Homewood, wants the PSCC (Parent School Community Councils) to return with gusto. And our sports boosters, sports leagues and sports advocate efforts should be a part of those PSCC gatherings, perhaps bringing purpose for some to show up and get more involved.

I spoke at #13.

Speaker #14 ranted about knowledge being power. Learn everything and many things. “We should do better than that so our kids can survive in the world.” Learning to swim is a survival skill.

Speaker #15, a Linden teacher and advocate with gifted referrals wants a universal screening so that all the kids who qualify as gifted get an invite to the Pittsburgh Gifted Center. Of course, all the kids should have some of the same opportunities. We could tie a universal gifted screening approach to a mission to have universal swimming lessons.

Speaker #16, Obama Academy senior, spoke of Teen Block and speaking up with student voices. The most popular messages among the kids have been about school starting too early and PPS teaching the whole person. I just released a new video about the AM Swim Practices we have at 6 am. And, I'm a big fan of holistic coaching.

Speaker #17, a U-Prep junior, a young Mr. Sanders, wants to be an entrepreneur. His personal finance class doesn't have a stable teacher and there are many faculty who seem to change often. The lunches do not seem to be nutritional and he and his classmates do not seem to be energized after eating. With athletes, great nutrition is vital. With growing kids, nutrition matters. I also expect that with more athletes, we'll diminish violence. Learning to play well with others is a central theme we should embrace often.

Speaker #18, a parent wants to develop amazing adults and wants inclusion with the disability community. Unemployment is at 70% in that sector, and teaching needs to be visual, auditory and kinetic.

Speaker #19, Ron Lawrence, 100-Black Men and an A+ Schools board member is one I want to get to meet. Closing the achievement gap is important. That achievement gap happens at the swim pool too.

Speaker #20, Education Rights Network advocate wants to end that pipeline to prison. I agree, the PPS administrative cabinet should have a commitment to include an administrator to work full time on efforts to better support those with disabilities. Another after-thought it seems.

Speaker #21, Kenneth, a long-time community activist and friend wants student government and school newspapers to be a first contact with visitors to the school. The newspapers teach ethics and are a place to get focus in a crisis. What's going on should be written about and he feels Mark Roosevelt was a terrible person, especially as he sold off the printing presses in all the schools.

Speaker #22, Tim Stevens, spoke and sang of his days in the U-Prep school, site of the meeting, as it was then called Herron Hill. He spoke at a past meeting and he highlighted the slogan above the stage, “We are all learning.” Enough said.

Speaker #23, Chris Moore, the new U-Prep principal, a former teacher at Schenley, is back in PPS and he feels the new superintendent should be one who is “called” to the job. That is a great trait. He also says that the new superintendent should have the discipline to put students first as he or she makes decisions. I got to chat for a minute after the meeting with the new principal. He'll help to get the word out to the students about the opportunities to play water polo in the neighborhood on Fridays at the Thelma Lovette YMCA.

Family Christmas Letter, sent on New Year's Day, 2015

Happy New Year, 2015

Food is our common ground, a universal experience…James Beard

Looking back on 2014, food has been a strong theme for us. Many friends and family have provided us with food, the equipment to make great food, and food recipes that shaped our experiences this year. Finding time to sit down as a family for meals is a priority and has taken many shapes this year as we manage various schedules. If you are in Pittsburgh, let us know, we’d love to share a meal with you!

In March, the whole family made a trip to Orlando, Florida, for one of Catherine’s conferences with Grant and Mark heading on to Dallas for one of Grant’s water polo competitions. Mark arrived in Dallas and made his way to a hospital where they removed his burst appendix. This started a 5 week stay in two hospitals which involved Mark eating almost no food! As part of his recovery, his sisters (who were instrumental in his care) gave him a Vitamix blender. If you don’t have one, put this letter down and get one. This piece of equipment has allowed us to create things from scratch that we never would have imagined. Whether it is smoothies, almond or coconut butter, or tomato bisque (recipe included), we use this blender multiple times a day!

We enjoyed visits with Erik as he took breaks from his studies at Swarthmore College. He has been a good sport about trying all the new things we’ve been creating in the kitchen. Erik was thinking about food this summer in Washington, DC, while he was an intern in the Office of the First Lady. We’ve included one of Michelle Obama’s favorite recipes. He helped with Mrs. Obama’s school lunch initiative and other child health issues. Friends of Mark provided housing for Erik. We really can’t thank them enough! Erik continues his work from a distance with the Loveless Cafe – another great place for food, especially the biscuits and jams!

Mark was hired as the women’s club water polo coach at Carnegie Mellon University. He is still the boys’ varsity swim coach at Grant’s High School, Pittsburgh Obama Academy. He managed another successful Swim and Water Polo Camp for nearly 200 kids with Pittsburgh Public School’s Summer Dreamers. Open, drop-in community water polo for adults and high school swimmers happens at 5pm every Friday at Thelma Lovette YMCA on Centre Ave in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. At a recent AM swim practice, Mark gave a phone interview to the BBC about a swimmer he coached 30+ years ago. Ebooks, apps development and a Kickstarter campaign are on tap for early 2015.

Grant continues to golf, swim and play high-level water polo which sends him to the suburbs and local colleges many evenings each week. One way or another, we all have dinner together whether it is at 4 or 10 pm, and sometimes both! Grant went to the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics with Greenwich Aquatics (CT). He and Catherine had fun spending time with close friends in New York while Grant practiced with that team in July.

This friend is a gourmet cook so Grant got a sense of what it would be like to be an athlete with a private chef!

Catherine continues to help her Mom stay in independent living with frequent visits. A recipe from Mark’s sister, Margie, is one of Barbara’s favorite dinners (recipe included). Barbara is the perfect person to bounce cooking ideas off of and she taught us the trick to great kale salads (recipe included).

We hope you’ve had time over this holiday to share food with loved ones and we wish you the time and space to do more of this in the New Year. Here’s to good health and happiness in 2015!

Mark, Catherine, Erik, and Grant

108 South 12th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203; mark@rauterkus.com; NUKED other ADDRESS

412-298-3432; 412-xxx-xxxx

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Some recipes we thought you might enjoy in 2015!

White House kitchen Garden Cucumber Soup (a recipe from Michelle Obama which she shares in her correspondence)

2 cups almond milk (or scald 2 cups milk w/a handful of slivered almonds; steep 10 minutes, let cool, leave almonds in)

2 large cucumbers; 3 oz Greek yogurt; 2 Tbsp dill, salt, toasted almonds, Greek yogurt, and dill for granish

Peel, seed and coarsely chop the cucumbers. Add cucumbers, almond milk, Greek yogurt, dill and salt to blender and puree until smooth. Serve chilled. Garnish w/toasted almonds, a dollop of Greek yogurt and sprig of dill.


Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken (shared by Margie Guyer, Mark’s sister)

2 lbs boneless , skinless chicken breasts; 1 pkg Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix; ½ cup water; 1 8 oz pkg cream cheese;
1 can cream of chicken soup (or cream of mushroom soup)

3 cups cooked white, long grain rice (or for a low carb version, put this over spaghetti squash or other vegetables)

Place chicken in crock pot. Mix together Italian dressing mix and water, pour over chicken. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours OR low for 8 hours. Mix together cream cheese and soup in a separate bowl. Remove chicken from the crock pot to a plate. Pour cream cheese/soup mixture into crock pot and mix together with dressing in the bottom. Return chicken to crock pot and mix gently to shred the chicken. Cook on low until heated through. Serve on rice (or spaghetti squash).


Tomato Basil Bisque (from The Joy of Cooking (and Eating) Fat)

1 large onion sliced ¼ inch thick. 6 large or 12 small tomatoes (about 3 cups worth); 10-15 fresh basil leaves; ¼ cup light olive oil; ½ tsp finely ground black pepper; 4 cups chicken broth; 1 cup heavy cream

Put olive oil and onions in a pot and brown over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Cut the tomatoes in half and add them along with the basil leaves and pepper. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes (tomatoes should be soft). Place all of this into a blender for 60 seconds. Rinse the cooking pot, place a large sieve over it, and strain the blended mix though it. Discard any solids. Add the chicken broth to the tomato puree and warm over heat. Take soup off the heat and whisk in the heavy cream.

We really like this Bisque served with Giada De Laurentis’ Parmesan Crackers. Place heaping Tbsps of shredded Parmesan cheese onto parchment paper covered backing sheet. Bake for 5 minutes at 400 degrees. He dips these into the bisque (kind of like grilled cheese and tomato soup without the carbs!)


Kale Salad

Barbara Palmer taught us the trick to great Kale salads. Use scissors to cut the kale away from the stalk and then into small pieces. Drizzle lots of olive oil over the cut up Kale and then scrunch it with your hands (this breaks the stiff veins and is the key to great kale salad – scrunch a lot!). Then add the juice of one lemon and the zest. We like two variations from here: 1) grate parmesan cheese and sprinkle bacon bits over it or 2) add ½ cup of quinoa, feta, and pecans.

My latest rant in the comments at PureReform

The education blog, PureReform, has a focus on Pittsburgh Public Schools and a thread developed. I put in my two cents.

I think that the board does hold the keys to hiring and firing the superintendent. That was the question and the first reply at the top is accurate.

I also think that board presidents have more power than other board members. Squeaky wheels, no big deal.

Sure, parents have power. Most deploy that and move out of PPS, to the burbs, to private / Catholic schools or to charter schools. Some may stay and rely upon tutors and enrichment in other avenues.

Year-after-year the city's population churns and those with kids flee. That's the year-after-year story. PPS shrinks greatly every year because many parents who have the power opt to put their kids elsewhere.

Those without kids care far less than those who do raise their children here. Fact of life. Bill Peduto and Michael Lamb and Jim Ferlo and a host of yuppies living in apartments in South Side Works care a tiny bit....

Meanwhile, those who do have kids are often so close to the action that the selfish streak is going to come out first. There is forest, trees and momma bear in the woods, if you know what I mean.

IMNSHO, the next revolution -- or more to the point -- the next revolution that will gain some system-wide changes and be noted in history as a game-changer is NOT about taking down or taking out people with power, captains on a sinking ship.

Be careful for what you wish for in terms of changing principals and such. Once upon a time the people of Poland could turn to their hopes to the east and see Stalin and then to the west and see Hitler. Today's (and for generations I guess) the middle east is a quagmire with ISIS, Syria, Iraq, Iran, etc., etc. Friends are not generally found with the enemy of an enemy. We're learning that lesson, right?

The next revolution that is going to work is going to be one that HELPS THE KIDS. This is something that we can all get behind, even those YUPPIES that use the bike lanes that Peduto is happy to build and boast about. A new venture that greatly helps the educational options and outcomes with a lot of kids is going to get many people excited and make a serious impact.

That's the ticket.

I'm not inclined to pitch a protest and rail against any figure-head and repeat the mistakes of the past.

I have serious doubts that Dr. Lane's replacement would be any better than what we've already got and that is not saying much.

Position Paper, Alpha, posted within the blog

A position paper from Mark Rauterkus

Mark@Rauterkus.com

412-298-3432

Alpha Release, 02/02/14

Delivered to:

Dara Ware Allen, PPS Administration, Student Services

Ron Joseph, PPS Administration, Chief Operations Officer

Mike Gavlik, PPS Athletics

Liza Simmons, Obama Academy Athletics

Some fellow coaches within PPS and some nonprofit CEOs

Mayor Bill Peduto, Kevin Acklin, Chief of Staff

Corey O'Connor, Pgh City Council and Chair of Recreation Committee

Michael Lamb, City Controller

http://aforathlete.wikia.com/wiki/Fewer_Sports_Alternatives

The concept of “fewer sports” for Pittsburgh Public Schools is wrong for many reasons.

With fewer sports, more students are going to depart the city and Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS).

Sports help students get “promise ready.” Plus with sports, students gain admission to better colleges with more financial aid. Furthermore, athletes are embraced with support and instant friendships after they get onto their campus settings. Athletes do better in the classroom with higher grades in both high school and in college.

Having sports such as swimming, golf and tennis insures “excellence for all.” Pittsburgh students need schools with programs that teach how to perform in a competitive world where strong team behaviors and pressure situations are the norm.

Sports help youngsters understand what in life matters and where the noise and less important distractions reside. Quality sports experiences do wonders to teach our kids how to better manage time, space, and relationships, especially with themselves and peers.

PPS does not need fewer sports, but rather: better, smarter, more flexible and sustainable sports. We need integrated lessons from sports and wellness, and engaging sports experiences that span years, generations and communities.

With crisis comes opportunity.

My hope is to advance alternatives to “fewer sports.” Better discussions, decisions and solutions can lead the administration and board to improved outcomes and less overall PPS spending. Sports at our schools and parks can be improved greatly and be a deeply positive connection to greater number of students, citizens and taxpayers. Pittsburgh is a sports town. Sports can be a key to helping fix some of the problems in the district, the city and region.

Background articles in Obama Eagle, school newspaper:

http://www.obamaeagle.org/top-stories/2014/01/21/budget-cuts-ideas-abound-to-save-sports/

http://www.obamaeagle.org/top-stories/2013/12/08/potential-budget-cuts-worry-obamas-swimmers-coach/

Suggestions in a one page PDF. http://tinyurl.com/lw55lcc

Suggestion #1a:

PPS Superintendent, Doctor Linda Lane, should re-establish our Athletic Reform Task Force.

I was appointed to the sports-reform committee established by Mark Roosevelt. When Dr. Lane became superintendent, she put those efforts and its findings to the back burner in favor of paying $2.7 million to consultants for an “envisioning process.”

Rich discussions about philosophy with data, hard evaluations and long-term planning should occur with both district personnel and coaching leaders.

With Doctor Lane's approval, I'll gladly re-convene and lead another sports reform process. It could continue in duration from a week to a year.

Athletic participation is the single most popular school-sponsored extracurricular activity among adolescents regardless of gender, race, and ethnicity (e.g., U.S. Department of Education, 1995; Eccles & Barber, 1999)

Example 1: A Title IX study for PPS was conducted by an outside consultant, Peg Pennypacker. The report took more than a year to research, was delivered months late, had dozens of blind spots. Findings reported what was already understood by those within the district. The report was a ploy to delay needed changes. Actions driven by earnest and open discussions are needed. Delays and outside consultants are not necessary.

Example 2: The Envisioning process of 2013 cost $2.7 million more than the Athletic Reform Task Force. One PPS employee, Jake House, was hired for the project for one year with outside (soft) money. Mr. House later transferred to other duties and has since left the district. Volunteers and staff can make the Sports Reform Task Force work if political will flows from the board, PPS administration and/or city hall.

Suggestion #1b:

This position paper can fill the early agenda for task force meetings.

What follows needs editing, expansion, and support with cost-benefits analysis and SWOT charts. Votes from those on the re-established Athletic Reform Task Force would assure different opinions on different matters get debated and represented.

Suggestion #1c:

The next task force should include a research component. Examine student data along with Pittsburgh Promise data.

I'm not surprised swimmers lead the school in the classroom. Class rank, test scores, attendance, college admissions and overall school success with swim team scholar-athletes is remarkable. Swimming and fitness make kids smarter and more engaged. As a district we should expand and replicate successes, not suppress and cut. My hypothesis: Cutting swimming would crush school-wide academic excellence.

Example 1: The top student in the class of 2014 at Obama is the boys swim team captain.

Example 2: A super-majority of IB candidates in the past five years have been on the swim team.

Example 3: I imagine that Allderdice swimmers have similar, high-performing academic performance as well. Leah Furman, Allderdice swimmer, 2013 graduate, established new swim records at Wellesley College this fall.

Leah's younger brother is a great athlete too. He is a wrestler and does not attend a PPS school, sadly.

Suggestion #2:

Understand that the cutting swimming isn't about money.

More than three years ago, and many times since, a pledge of $50,000 per year was offered to the principal at Obama Academy. Every year for the past 3 years, the Obama swim team could have been giving the school and its athletic department $50K. These funds could be pulling the financial weight of the swim teams.

At regular intervals I've approached many at PPS offering to lead programs that would make money at the pools. I can't explain the rejections. The lack of cooperation and communication has been astounding. It is NOT okay to use money as an excuse so as to cut the swim programs now. The real blame is not money but is a blend of poor cooperation, incompetence, ignorance and a dash of board policy.

Incomes from swimming lessons, community programs, races, water polo, and other regular activities that generally happen at public school pools in the region and the nation have been squandered.

Example 1: Northgate High School's age-group swim program has more than 130 kids. Each pays $500 per year. Northgate's swim club generates $67,000+ in user fees. Northgate, our competition, has feeder programs and income generation. These programs happen throughout the WPIAL, but not in the city, sadly. The Obama boy swimmers beat Northgate in the past 2 seasons. This year, the girls of Northgate beat Obama.

Example 2: In five weeks of 2013 PPS Summer Dreamers Academy's Swim & Water Polo Camp, the total budget was $50,000. More could be earned in the other 46 weeks of the year.

Example 3: When Peter J. Camarda (now retired) was the PPS business manager, he attached a $16,000 price tag to a pool permit request from the varsity coach for off-season conditioning for the Obama varsity swim team. The uncooperative and lazy within PPS are few. Nonetheless, one objection has always toppled plans. Inspiring recreational programs requires institutional support.

Summary: Don't say swimming was cut because of money. Moving forward, everyone can understand that money is not a problem in the swim programs.

Suggestion #3a:

Allow me, Obama head boys swim coach, to operate a robust aquatics program called, “PPS H2O.”

I'd be happy to work with top PPS administrators to eliminate hurdles and form an endeavor, “PPS H2O.” Without a doubt, a robust aquatics program would pull its own weight with finances. Significant funds ($50,000 per year) can be generated by the aquatics programs at Obama and PPS.

The students, the swim team, the athletic department, the school, and the district benefits. Existing facilities and proven leadership can be leveraged to everyone's advantage making “PPS H2O” a city-wide proving ground for community enrichment, cooperation, and competitive sports programs.

Money can be generated with user fees, sponsorships/grants, special events and sales. The aquatic programs can be made to be viable with incomes that exceed expenses. Business plan documents that detail additional income activities (S6, Tech Captains, etc.) are available. With PPS H2O, long-term cuts can be made to the PPS budget.

Example 1: In 1992, a weekend YMCA invitational swim meet at Plum HS in a 6-lane pool, earned $10,000. In meets alone, Pittsburgh should be offering 5 to 12 meets a year at our pools, earning $50,000 to $120,000.

Suggestion #3b

Launch “PPS H2O,” a comprehensive aquatic program for schools and citizens.

The concept map shows what should be happening in our pools.

Suggestion #3c:

Do eliminate PPS middle school and elementary school swimming from the PPS Athletics budget if some funds can be used to establish “PPS H20” for the management of after school swim efforts throughout the city.

Presently, the middle school swimming teams in PPS have a lot to be desired. Better outcomes can be obtained and are expected.

The suggestion of “some of the funds” could be measured as 50% of the savings in the first year and no additonal funds in future years. Example with round numbers: If $100,000 is for the yearly ongoing budget for the cut programs, put 50%, $50,000 into one-time start-up investment for PPS H2O.

That one-time start-up is really a budget line-item transfer because PPS H20 is still part of PPS for a few years until it can spin out as its own 501(c)(3) and sustain itself.

Suggestion #3d:

Swim coaching connections are needed among Elementary, Middle School and Varsity Swim Teams.

At present, coaches throughout PPS do their own thing without the benefit of any system, guidance, benchmarks and training standards. Systems can be flexible to allow for creativity at various sites, but more often than not, the on-deck coaches welcome support, insight and purpose.

In WPIAL settings, a head coach leads the varsity team and has strong oversight over the JV, Middle School and Club settings. Kids get to develop in coordinated programs and with a unified vision. That is missing in the city, especially in aquatics.

After establishing PPS H20, coaching philosophies, strategies, tactics and techniques can be universal. A unified program can advance. Now, varsity coaches need to re-teach and overcome bad habits developed by younger swimmers. With a sports system, giant advances are expected year-to-year. Athletes should be able to develop in a system with skills, strength, conditioning, competitions and cognitive abilities.

Example: The boys varsity swim team at Obama had had most of this season's meets without a single freshman. The program at the old Frick Middle School, years ago, was ten times better than what is happening now. Team size today is a fraction of the past. Participation droped from 60 to less than a dozen in two years. AM practices were three times a week and they don't happen at all in 2013-14. The 14 year champions streak ended last year for both the boys and girls. The varsity head coach has no standing in today's system with four distinct swim coaches, boys and girls, middle school and high school. The PPS school framework with grades 6-12 in the same school delivers no benefits and lots of frustrations in athletics, especially in swimming.

Suggestion #3e:

Some Middle School Swimming needs to occur in the spring.

Most of the WPIAL teams have middle school swimming seasons in the spring. At present, with the 6-12 grades in the same pool, high school students have an impossible schedule. Varsity teams should have swim practices at 6 am and again immediately after school at 3 pm. Now the pool is not open at 3 pm as there is middle school physical education classes to 4 pm. Then at 4 pm to 5 pm is the middle school swim team practice time if not meets. High school swimmers can not waste 2 hours a day and function well.

Scheduling matters in a school pool that serves grades 6 to 12.

Season	Prime time use of the pool	Secondary uses of the pool
Fall	Water Polo	Triathlon, etc.
Winter	High School Swim Team	Winning Swimming Rookie Camps
Spring	Middle School Swim Team	Lifeguard and Instructor Training
Summer	Swim & Water Polo Camps	All-City Sports Camps

With the arrival of PPS H2O, the swim seasons can be coordinated. Schedules can be made so challenges are appropriate for the various athletes, coaches, communities and facilities.

Suggestion #4:

Swimming in the city needs better focus, management, finances and opportunities. “PPS H2O” can be started to deal with the aquatics issues.

Citiparks, swim lessons, All-City Sports Camps, Summer Dreamers, varsity teams, age group teams, middle school teams, elementary school teams, and community programs all blend and mix and need coordination. PPS operates nearly 20 school pools. The city of Pittsburgh has many outdoor pools and one indoor facility, the Oliver Bath House. Associations with Kingsley Center, YMCA, JCC, colleges and charter schools are expected.

Swimming is important as swimming is a life saving skill. Since kids of color are six-times more likely to die by drowning and since drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental deaths for kids, and since PPS swim facilities are already built, and since Swim & Water Polo Camp was the most popular option for kids and families in the 2013 Summer Dreamers sign up process, let's insure our kids get into the pool and get to swim. Knowing how to swim saves lives.

PPS H20 will teach every 7-year-old in the city how to swim for free if PPS Board would give access to the public swim pools in our schools. This significant “reach goal” for PPS H2O can rally the community. The plans of a gratis swim team experience for every 7-year-old in the city will “re-create” swimming in this town with three rivers. With the PPS pools and the Oliver Bath House, especially in the summer, kids can get into swimming at an ideal age as reading and mental skills mature. Concepts of times, strokes, rules, standards, whole-body movements, team-spirit and races should be mastered in the pool at “Winning Swimming Rookie Camps.” As the kids grow, those that enjoy swimming continue and pay modest user fees.

The time is right for the new PPS board with the new Pittsburgh mayor to pass new policies and a resolution (that costs nothing) so as to provide access for our programs within already existing swimming pools in our public buildings. Getting access to swim pools has been nearly impossible. All the PPS pools are closed all summer with few exceptions. Pools are closed, for the most part, on afternoons, evenings, nights, weekends and vacation days. Access to swim pools isn't needed 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, but rather when the custodians are already on duty in the buildings.

Example: No person has ever died after missing a 3-point basketball shot. On the other hand, if someone finds himself in deep water and can't swim, death is a possibility.

Example: PPS H2O would operate with tight relationships with Citiparks and others. See the 8 page newspaper supplement published with the South Pittsburgh Reporter that was part of Swim & Water Polo Camps in July 2013. http://tinyurl.com/ntndnq3

Suggestion #5a:

Let's run “All-City Sports Camps” for up to 1,000 students starting May 1 and ending September 10, 2014, as a joint project of Citiparks, PPS and PPS H2O.

We can reach 1,000 this summer if PPS provide access to some of our public sports facilities as well as lunch-time meals via the federal lunch program.

A $100,000 budget can handle operations. None of those funds come from PPS. Rather, the sale of city pool tags / user fees and sponsorships pay for the All-City Sports Camp.

Background: When PPS Summer Dreamers Academy began, its vision included meaningful, quality activities for every middle school student in PPS. The aim was to curb summer learning loss. About 20 sites were utilized in the first year. In 2014, Summer Dreamers Academy is expected to have one middle school site and 3 elementary grade sites.

Demand is present. In 2013 more than 1,200 students applied yet got rejection letters saying that there was no room for them at Summer Dreamers. In 2012, more than 1,600 students got rejection letters.

A 2014, the new All-City Sports Camp can meet the programming challenges and demands of parents, citizens and taxpayers. Those that have been getting denied admission to the full-day Summer Dreamers Academy can attend the half-day All-City Sports Camp.

Students who have a week of family vacation are told to not enroll in Summer Dreamers as attendance at SDA is a huge factor. Students are only allowed to miss 3 of the 28 days before getting expelled.

The All-City Sports Camp can provide bridge activities for those in Summer Dreamers for other days throughout the summer, before and after the official 28 days of Summer Dreamers.

. - . - . - . - . - . -Enclosed proposal . - . - . - . - . - . -

All City Sports Camp, Summer of 2014

Proposal from Mark Rauterkus, Mark@Rauterkus.com, 412-298-3432

Title:

Sponsorship could re-name the camps. UPMC, Dick's, Body Media, Dollar Bank, etc.

Branding sponsors options can be found. The Pittsburgh Marathon brand, Kids of STEEL, could be part of the camp's name. This is pending and not approved yet. So, the title could become, The Kids of STEEL Summer Sports Camp, or some like that.

Staffing synergy:

In the summer of 2013, the Swim & Water Polo Camps as part of PPS Summer Dreamers Academy had more than 35 employees. A great staff was assembled. However, work lasted just four hours per day, noon to 4 pm, for 28 days.

In 2012 and 2011, our staff worked in the mornings and the afternoons, up to 8 hours a day. In those years, the activities portion of the camp happened for some students in the mornings and for other students in the afternoons. Academics were in the other half of the day.

Employees, especially college kids in need of money for tuition payments, need to earn money in the summers. The mid-day hours and 20-hour weekly limit made it difficult for 2013 employees to earn what they could. Some employees skipped over the assistant coaching jobs for lesser positions that gave them more hours elsewhere.

We hope to use a majority of the staff from Swim & Water Polo Camp for full-day of work. More hours means better money for each staff member. Plus, more hours means we have a better staff as those who need to save for college with summer work can join these efforts.

Pittsburgh City Councilman, Rev. Ricky Burgess, hopes to raise the city's youth employment budget to $600,000 in 2014. Coaching our kids in structured fitness settings makes an excellent summer job for many.

Facility synergy:

Citiparks swim pools open to the public at 1 pm. In the morning hours, plenty of space is available. Likewise other facilities, such as the gym at Ammon Rec Center have morning hours available.

The PPS Summer Dreamer sites, such as PCA and Langley, have open swim pools open in the mornings too, because the Summer Dreamers activities are in the afternoons.

Weather synergy:

Morning times are better for conditioning so as to avoid the afternoon summer heat.

Demand:

In 2012, more than 1,600 kids applied and were not able to be serviced.

In 2013, more than 1,300 kids applied to Summer Dreamers and got rejection letters.

In 2014, Summer Dreamers has 1 less site, 4. In 2013 there were five.

Number of Locations for the All City Sports Camps:

In the first year, 2014, we would want more than three but less than ten sites.

All City Sports Sites:

Specific sites are pending. Getting support from Pittsburgh Public Schools for use of facilities is the challenge. However, the trend is moving in the right directions.

Proposed (and optional) 2014 sites, in no specific order:

1. North: Oliver High School

2. Central: South Side's Cupples Stadium

3. Hill District: Ammon Rec Center, and Thelma Lovette YMCA

4. West: PCA / Greenway

5. South: Carrick High School

6. East: Westinghouse High School

7. Golf: Schenley's Bob O'Connor Golf Course

Optional:

8. Obama / Peabody

9. Arsenal

10. U-Prep

11. Sci-Tech

12. Perry

The 2014 PPS Summer Dreamers expects to 4 sites, (5 in 2013).

Langley = K-5 grades;

Faison = K-5 grades;

Carmault = K-5 grades;

PCA / Greenway = middle school grades.

Joining efforts with PPS Summer Dreamers with All-City Sports Camps. AM + PM coordination.

City Sports AM + PM Summer Dreamers:

Carrick goes with Faison

PCA goes with PCA

Westinghouse goes with Faison

Oliver (and/or Ammon) goes to Langley

South Side stays in the afternoons too

Golf goes to golf sites.

Site Features:

PCA / Greenway

The PCA / Greenway site has a great, indoor 6-lane, 25 yard pool. Plus, a field with a cinder track is also on school grounds. Furthermore, there are tennis courts, a second practice field and hills. No other destinations are close for walking.

PCA is also called Pittsburgh Classical Academy, Greenway and the Gifted Center. All names are for the same campus.

Ammon Rec Center / Hill District

Ammon Rec is home to a summer camp from Ozanam. That group has a range of ages, but mostly elementary school. They have had a few weeks of swimming lessons with the lifeguards as instructors.

Ammon has a giant, great outdoor swim pool with four water polo goals. Ammon also has an indoor gym, indoor weight room, outdoor basketball courts, and a wonderful outdoor baseball field.

It would be possible to go from Ammon to the Carnegie Library on Centre Ave. and the Thelma Lovette YMCA. The Y partnership has an evening focus for game-days and swim meets once per week.

Oliver High School

Oliver High School has a regulation, rubber-surface, outdoor track in fair condition. Plus, Oliver has a big gym and a great 6 lane, 25 yard indoor swim pool.

Oliver is in the north part of the city and is near to North Allegheny High School. Some of our staff might be from north suburban locations. A mid-day camp might be better for those student athletes as they have training sessions themselves at North Park Swim Pool in the early mornings.

The Summer Dreamers sites do not include any location in the North, sadly.

Westinghouse

There is a great 6 lane, 25 yard swim pool at Westinghouse. Out the pool doors and down the small hill is the football field with a cinder track too. Westinghouse also has a gym.

The Summer Dreamers from Faison could swim at Westinghouse, as it is not too far. Last year a bus was provided for the Faision kids. Going to the Highland Park Pool, Citiparks, outdoor and large, with beach volleyball courts, is possible. It is also not hard to get to the Bud Harris Cycle Oval on Washington Blvd.

South Side sites

The South Side location has a number of venues that can be put to use by the All City Sports Camp. The South Side Cupples Stadium, its turf, track, locker room, and outdoor basketball court. Only 2 blocks away is the indoor Oliver Bath House, a 9 lanes, 20 yard swim pool. The Oliver Bath House is a great instructional pool and fine for instruction and competitions for those in the younger and rookie stages. The Oliver Bath House is always closed to the public in the months of June, July and August, so it is wide open for our uses. Armstrong Park is 3 blocks away and has a grass field and a basketball court, plus bathroom facilities. The Market House has a nice indoor gym and kitchen. The River Trail and the steps of the South Side Slopes are close as well. River access exists for kayaks too. The UPMC Sports Medicine Center is more than a mile away, but along the trail.

It is possible for the South Side site to rotate the locations for check in: Monday at Market House. Tuesday at Track. Wednesday at the water of the Oliver Bath House, Thursday at Trail and Friday at the Field.

Carrick High School

Carrick might be the hardest to obtain because the principal and the custodian, Mike, have always been quick to say, 'No.' Use of Carrick would be wonderful. Carrick has a great swim pool and is next to a a Citipark facility, Phillips Park, with a disk golf course, gym and an outdoor swim pool. A field is near too, given a 5 minute walk. Carrick is a bus ride from Carmalt.

If Carrick can't be used, Brashear is an alternative.

Bob O'Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park

The 18 hole course and the First Tee of Pittsburgh program could be blended into the All City Sports Camps. This is to be negotiated.

Camper Capacity by site:

North: Oliver High School = 150 students

Central: South Side's Cupples Stadium = 250 students in AM + 250 in PM

Hill District: Ammon Rec Center, and Thelma Lovette YMCA = 100 students

West: PCA / Greenway = 75 students

South: Carrick High School = 100 students

East: Westinghouse High School = 150 students

GOLF: Schenley's Bob O'Connor Golf Course = 30 students

Total = 1,105 students

Income / Revenue

Sponsorships = $10,000

Athlete Pool Tags sold by Citiparks

$60 per kid x 1,000 = $60,000

$35 per kid (after Aug 1) x 30 = $1,050

$75 per adult x 100 = $7,500

Race Fees = $10,000

Gear Sales = $2,500

Total = $91,050

Expenses:

Staffing* costs are about 80% of the costs:

CEO and HQ staff = $10,000

6 x head coach = $3,000 each = $18,000

18 x assistant coach = $1,000 each = $18,000

18 x junior helpers = $600 each = $10,080

15 Lifeguard / Instructors = $1,200 each = $18,000

Total above = $65,080 in staffing

* The City of Pittsburgh has a youth job program budget for the summer of 2014 that equals $600,000.

Supplies are about 20% of the costs.

. - . - . - . - . - . -END of Enclosed proposal . - . - . - . - . - . -

Suggestion 5b: 
Reflection on Puzzle Pieces:

The landscape in the life of a city and its players includes different departments, organizations and activities. The illustration shows some of the entities that can be formed and cooperate.

Illustration not shown to scale, of course.

The new in 2014 elements include: PPS H2O (for year-round aquatics), All-City Sports Camps (summers in many sports) and Olympic Sports Division (school-year container for intramurals and sports cut from PPS Athletics: tennis, golf, swimming, etc.)

Glue, overlaps, oversight and management specifics still to be determined and negotiated.

Suggestion #6:

Use co-op sports agreements to save the swim teams at Carrick and Brashear.

The swim teams at Carrick and Brashear could be saved with creative cooperative sports agreements with two local Catholic high schools.

Seaton LaSalle High School swim team rents the pool at Brashear. Bishop Canevin rents the pool at Pittsburgh Classical (PCA). A sports cooperative agreement could be forged for swimming so Seaton LaSalle hooks up with Brashear and Bishop Canevin hooks its coop up with Carrick. With those coops, the PPS students who want to be varsity swimmers at those schools could still have a team to join. Practices would still be at their home school. The coaching staff and costs of officials could come from negotiations and private school sources. PPS can supply use of the pool space that otherwise would be sitting idle.

Coops are not ideal. But cutting programs are far worse. See footnote article: A cautionary tale, to hear how another school district in Ohio lost 103 students when sports were cut for only a few months.

The Carrick and Brashear teams would also benefit from support from PPS H2O. Money, program upgrades, year-round aquatic opportunities, hiring help and other organizational efforts are expected.

Example: OLSH (Our Lady of Sacred Heart) has a coop with Cornell in swimming. So, a private / Catholic school can form a coop with a public school.

Suggestion #7:

Allow for the North Allegheny squads to provide joint programs for students and citizens in the north, and put to use of the pools at Perry HS and Oliver HS.

The swim pools at Perry and Oliver can be utilized for practices with suburban swimmers that also blend in community programs for city citizens and students. These efforts can be managed with PPS H20 endeavors.

Perry students, and even those at CAPA too, could swim in the WPIAL meet as independents. One day, after PPS H20 is thriving, CAPA could field its own team and perhaps use Perry, Oliver or PCA its home pool.

Suggestion #8:

Westinghouse High School can be joined with the Homewood Children's Village Charter School.

The Homewood Children's Village (HCV) is a service organization that operates “wrap around services” that include after school programs and sports team sponsorships. The HCV charter school application is pending in 2014 and classes could begin as soon as fall 2014 for students in grades 6 and 7. The HCV charter school would grow through the years to span from grade 6 to 12.

Providing the HCV with pool access could benefit Westinghouse and PPS students. Other HCV aquatic plans are pending. The HCV could sponsor city-wide water polo teams.

In 2014, a Westinghouse Middle School swim team came to life, coached by Westinghouse teacher, Carl Goldman.

In 2013, more than 50 students in the 3^rd grade at Faison swam as part of Summer Dreamers.

Water polo was played at Westinghouse in an after school program, once per week in 2011-12 school year.

Suggestion #9:

Diving could come into being at either Westinghouse or Perry.

The WPIAL and PIAA sponsors “swimming and diving” meets. Diving could happen at Westinghouse and/or Perry in the years to come after PPS H20 begins to thrive.

Suggestion #10:

PPS should work in political ways to legislate changes to the existing PIAA rules in terms of coop teams.

Coops allow school districts to be more creative with opportunities for students. However, co-ops are less than ideal.

The term “co-op” (also coop) is short for “cooperative sponsorship of a sport.” The outcome is an agreement among schools that allows teams to field squads of student-athletes from two or three schools. Coops are a trend in scholastic sports. Coop rules dictate that no more than 3 schools merge into one team. So, it would not be possible with the rules in place in 2014 to make a single coop team in any sport that involves students from all PPS high schools. To form one “all-star” quad-A team sounds like a great idea, but it is not permitted. Example: The Northgate School District has a swim pool and a swim team and students that go to Avalon High School are able to join Northgate's swim team.

Most suburban school districts have one high school. All the students from that one district attend one school and join one sports team. Pittsburgh Public Schools is one district but with many schools. Pittsburgh needs to have many teams as all the kids are spread among various schools.

The proposed Olympic Sports Department could take a long-term approach, and reason with, and lobby for adjustments to “coop” rules and opportunities with sports administrators within the PIAA and WPIAL.

For details, read PIAA By-Laws, ARTICLE III, ATTENDANCE, Section 11, Cooperative Sponsorship of a Sport deals with co-op(s). PIAA recognizes as separate high schools those schools recognized as separate high schools by the PA Department of Education.

Example: The first challenge with sports coop that should gain easy approval is in water polo. With the help of PPS and PPS H2O, a petition to the PIAA and water polo administration should enable a “Pittsburgh Combined” varsity water polo team that allow participation in the sport with students from any PPS schools. In an emerging sport such as water polo, and with willing competitors, getting approval for this new type of team and district coop framework is possible.

Example 2: Girls water polo could be easier to begin if it is a city-wide opportunity.

Example 3: Other district-wide sports teams might emerge in Bowling, Competitive Cheer, Triathlon and Cycling.

Suggestion #11:

PPS should work in political ways to establish better rules and opportunities in the classification realm within the PIAA and WPIAL.

More scholastic sports opportunities could be forthcoming if the PIAA and perhaps the WPIAL offered an additional classification that could better accommodate the novice / expansion / rookie / recreational / JV division. Options of having a “non-league” team at a school are possible, but scheduling makes seasonal planning extremely unlikely.

Coordinators from the PPS Olympic Sports Department could take a long-term view so as to approach, reason with, and lobby for adjustments to “classification” rules and opportunities with sports administrators within the PIAA and WPIAL.

Example: A Western PA Recreational Tennis Classification that plays four weekend tournaments might be able to get more kids in the region playing tennis and representing their schools. But 2, 3, or 4 kids don't make a full-fledged WPIAL sectional team. These JV leagues might be welcome in specific settings and the city, a hub for Western PA, should champion, instigate and organize these opportunities as many city students might feel more at home in this level of competition.

Example 2: The Ultimate Frisbee league and the Frisbee Golf league exist in Western PA. City kids and some city teams take part in those activities now. But more coordination would draw greater participation. Those efforts are beyond the scope of PPS Athletic Department but could be welcomed in the Olympic Sports Division.

Suggestion #12:

Consider excellence in each sport in each school in each teams. Then make the necessary cuts.

Contrasting experiences are huge and should not be ignored.

Example: The boy swimmers at Obama are defending section champions. Meanwhile, there have not been enough swimmers to make a relay at Perry or Westinghouse in years. Perhaps PPS needs to cut swimming at all schools so that swimming can be re-started at Obama and Allderdice?

Suggestion #13:

Make necessary cuts to sports teams after fully considering each team's competitive capacity for prospects of a meaningful season. So, Cut District 8 baseball.

The 2013 seasonal schedule for baseball in D8 schools, (Westinghouse, Perry, Obama) was bleak. Cut baseball at those schools. Keep baseball at Brashear, Carrick and Allderdice.

Baseball prospects that want a school season must attend Allderdice, Carrick and Brashear. Those will be the schools for those who seek to play baseball.

Otherwise, kids could play baseball and softball within the All-City Sport Camps. Summer training for pitchers, catchers can occur for all students regardless if they attend a school that offers baseball or not. Off season games with mixed teams can be organized too. Our city kids can play on a combined team against WPIAL squads in the fall, at events that we control and instigate.

That state of softball and other sports are unsure and no position is taken here.

Suggestion #14:

Cut the PPS sports teams that cost the most per student.

Think again. Isn't football expensive?

All the sports budgets could be put online and open for anyone to see.

The cost for students could calculate brain damage risks too.

Suggestion #15:

Cut coops students out of teams if they require daily busing to practices.

True transportation costs and transportation burdens need to be considered in detail. Return to the policy that provide PPS athletes with PAT bus passes. Perhaps monthly bus passes are going to return and more high school students will get them. That move could help sports participation and other school activities. PAT Bus passes might reduce costs to PPS.

Example 1: Eliminate the need for the Sci-Tech and U-Prep students to go to Obama every day for practice in basketball, swimming, volleyball.

In football the Obama kids need to go to U-Prep. End football at Obama. Those students who want to play football should go to U-Prep, Allderdice or some other school with a local football team.

If the district had enough money, it would be better to have U-Prep have a football team and Obama have its own, different football team. But these efforts are about cuts, sadly, and not expansion of costly sports.

In basketball, it would be better for participation and cheaper for PPS to establish new varsity teams (boys and girls) at U-Prep + Sci-Tech and have Obama play without the coop. The costs of daily coaching has to be less than daily busing. U-Prep kids can walk to Sci-Tech.

U-Prep does not have a decent gym. It was built to be a middle school. However, the Sci-Tech does have a nice gym. And, a gym exists at Ammon Rec Center and at West Penn Recreation Center as well. Games could be played there. But Sci-Tech would be the best location.

The sold Schenley High School facilities are still missed.

Suggestion #16:

Strengthen golf at Allderdice in the short term. Partner with First Tee of Pittsburgh for everyone else.

Rather than cutting golf everywhere, make a new golf team coop so that the kids that have been playing golf from Sci-Tech and Obama can be part of the Allderdice golf team that competes in the WPIAL.

A city-wide JV golf team could be managed by the First Tee of Pittsburgh.

Golfers in the Allderdice coop from Sci-Tech and Obama should manage daily transportation without any PPS expenses. Golfers could be given a PAT bus pass or else they would need to find their own transportation.

If every golf team is cut, golf could be moved into the proposed Olympic Sports Division and managed in a partnership with The First Tee of Pittsburgh.

Golf has been a growing activity with PPS Physical Education classes. Furthermore, golf was put into the activity offerings with PPS Summer Dreamers. There are professional golf events coming to Pittsburgh in the seasons to come. Western Pennsylvania has a great golf infrastructure.

In the fall of 2013, three PPS students were able to golf in a PIAA qualification match. Joe from Perry High School was the only boy freshman to qualify in the western part of the state. The golfers from Allderdice have always been competitive and Sasha, a junior, played at the PIAA finals and went to a national golf event with First Tee and played at Pebble Beach.

Obama, Carrick and Brashear play District 8 golf and Allderdice is in the WPIAL. The D8 season was more of a developmental league, but the participants had a nice season. The D8 golfers could have a JV type season as part of First Tee of Pittsburgh.

County-wide “speed golf tournaments” could help to raise money for the First Tee membership for PPS students each year. The membership price is nominal. The value of the golf at Bob O'Connor course and support provided there is un-matched in any sport.

Suggestion #17:

If cuts must come, phase out restrictions. Honor immediate coops options for those already on teams today.

For example, if a specific sport within a coop is made to be no longer an option for students at one school, diminish it. Allow those on the team to continue. But, prevent new 9^th grade students from joining.

Example 1: If golf is removed as an option for the Obama students due to the costs, then an immediate coop with Allderdice is prudent for existing golfers.

Example 2: If football is removed as an option for the Obama students due to the costs of the coop, allow the ones in grades 10, 11 and 12 as of 2014 to continue to play football with U-Prep if they get their own transportation beyond central PPS budget payments. Then in 2015, only those in 11 and 12 get to be on the coop team. In 2016, only 12 grade participants could be on that team.

Otherwise, if players are forced to transfer out of a school because of cuts, they might transfer out of PPS to Woodland Hills or some other non PPS school.

Suggestion #18:

Allow athletes in PPS to ignore “feeder patterns” if they compete on that school's sports team.

PPS feeder patterns could be made fully irrelevant in the case of varsity athletes. Feeder patterns for high schools have been fading away throughout the PPS district. Geographic borders are archaic, exclude and subtract. Winning comes with addition.

As more charters are established, and as these charters are regionally attractive and with established sports teams, the feeder patterns become muddy. Enrollment becomes important without a hint of feeder patterns.

Example: If a student in the Carrick feeder pattern wants to be varsity swimmer, and if the Carrick swim team is eliminated, yet Allderdice and Obama continue to offer swim teams, then allow the student with a Carrick address the ability to attend either Allderdice or Obama as long as he or she stays in good standing with that team and school.

Ignoring feeder patterns for students should occur only one time in that person's high school tenure. Or, perhaps only those in 9^th grade get a pass to another school for sports participation while those in 10^th, 11^th and 12^th are not granted those enrollment / transfer rights.

Home schooled students that live within the district should be able to pick their own sports school at 9^th grade or when he or she does a school sport / activity try out. That school would be that person's school of choice and count on the enrollment forms for PIAA classifications.

PPS Cyber School students should be able to pick their own school too.

PPS CAPA School students in sports not offered by CAPA (see other suggestion) should be able to pick their own sports school too.

Suggestion #19:

Provide Physical Education credits to athletes.

One fewer class-period per day for high school students is a possible cost-saving measure said Superintendent Lane at her State of the District speech on December 4, 2013. With one fewer period per day, every period becomes more valuable for scholars.

High school physical education classes allow 45 students for one teacher. The 45:1 student to teacher ratio can be improved upon by giving Physical Education credit to athletes involved in sports teams. Getting smaller class sizes, saving money and allowing more academic options (i.e. AP courses) are benefits. Better supervision and instruction in PE periods would follow for the non-athlete students once those PE class periods occur without the athletes. Better experiences for those who remain is another benefit. Furthermore, students get additional external motivation for commitment to sports teams.

Log books, reflective journals, letters of recommendations, service hours teaching youth sports and other educational enrichment activities should be part of the duties for those seeking PE credit from outside sports and wellness participation. Mobile apps can be created to log student attendance at practices.

Example: In past years, swimmers on the Obama team arrived to school for 6 am to 7:15 swim practice. Then they get out of the pool, change into school clothes, attend home room for 5 minutes. Then comes first period physical education class, starting at 7:45 am, and the students swim again. Swimming in the PE class is at such an easy level that the period is a waste of time and space. It would be better to have the swimmers take an extra AP course in first period and not be a burden to the PE teachers and other PE students. A study hall would be better use of time in most cases. PE swimming for a swim team member is far from ideal.

Suggestion #20:

Give physical education and health credits to students who participate in the All-City Sports Camp.

Another way to save PPS money and still get kids the needed credits to graduate is to allow students a chance to get Physical Education credit at the All-City Sports Camp. Rather than hiring P.E. teachers who baby-sit make-up courses, lets put these PE teachers in more meaningful roles with a more dynamic camp experience that also serves as class credit.

The All-City Sports Camp is going to be three hours per day on average and happen for more than 100 days. A program for credit for health and physical education is possible within those efforts.

Suggestion #21:

Remove Sports Coaches from the scope of the PFT Contract.

The collective bargaining agreement between the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) and PPS for coaching contracts needs to end.

Example: When John Thompson was Superintendent of PPS, he promised that coaches would not be part of the contract. That key to sport reform efforts in the distant past was a promise not kept.

Many other school districts have coaching guidelines with pay and duties but the full scope of all coaching contracts are not not part of the bargaining unit.

Coaching positions need to be more flexible so kids are better served. Some teams might need assistant coaches while others teams don't. Some schools might want to switch sports. Some teams need to be eliminated. Some positions might need to be split to a couple of days per week among different individuals. Playoff pay, coaching credentials, and other more modern management practices should be part of an overhaul, but the union contract can't tolerate any changes to individual situations.

Example: At Obama, the contract calls for four coaches in swimming: HS Boys, HS Girls, MS Boys and MS Girls. It would be much better to have one person with head coach duties and aquatic director management devotion and three assistant coaches.

Example: The golf coach at Allderdice (in the WPIAL) does far more work than the golf coach at Brashear (not in WPIAL).

All coach contracts within the proposed Olympic Sports Division, PPS H2O and All-City Sports Camp need to be outside of the realm of the teachers contract.

Example: Coaches that do not teach within PPS do not get any help from the PFT.

Suggestion #22:

Eliminate PFT contract provisions concerning the 20:1 ratio for activity providers with PPS Summer Dreamers. Staff at Swim & Water Polo Camp at Summer Dreamers does not need to include more than 1 teacher.

How money is spent needs to be a concern in terms of the program's needs and outcomes. Five fewer PPS teachers would yield 20 additional hired college/high school swimmers. Then, 200 additional kids could be better motivated and supervised in our camps. Efficiency matters more than PPS contracts in our fun, running, high-splash efforts. Employee expnses account for up to 80% of the costs of Swim & Water Polo Camps. So, the jobs are critical.

Activity partners at PPS Summer Dreamers Academy are assigned one PPS teacher for every 20 students. The PPS teacher gets paid contract rates. This is expensive. Perhaps the Summer Dreamers budget could expand to handle an increase in the number of students by and additional 60% if the PPS teachers were excluded from activity times. Sure, PPS teachers at PPS rates should be hired and placed within the classrooms teaching academic materials. In certain areas, PPS teachers are a tremendous value, but in some instances, not so much.

PPS teachers would be eligible for the activity jobs. And, PPS teachers should be paid, if hired, at the PPS teacher rate. The same applies to the proposed All-City Sports Camps.

Example: In the past five years of doing PPS Summer Dreamers activities, it is my humble opinion that in some situations it would be better for the overall camp and the limited funding dollars to hire four young adults (of high school and college age) for running, swimming and playing water polo rather than one idle and passive PPS teacher. Without a doubt, some great PPS teachers have joined our ranks every year. They would and should continue. But the hard rule for 20:1 for PPS teachers is a serious burden when scale of the camp climbs above 200 to 400 students. To motivate and manage 20 PPS teachers at the pools, yet along find that many interested in running and swimming in the heat of the summer afternoon becomes a crazy deal-stopper due to over-reaching contract interpretation.

Rather than a 1:20 ratio, a 1:60 would be plenty. That's 1 PPS teacher to 60 campers. Meanwhile, the overall coach to camper ratio is closer to 1:6. By cutting 3 PPS teachers we gain a dozen youthful helpers. Those are significant adjustments for the long-term sustainability of summer-time activities.

Better to hire high school students and recent PPS graduates to help teach other younger students. We should deploy the opportunities for Summer Dreamers as a work-enrichment opportunity for meaningful jobs to the youth rather than be required to hire PPS teachers who are not engaged and are there only to punch more expensive time clocks.

Many of the PPS teachers are great. Some are not.

Suggestion #23:

Give sports coaches the ability to accept home room duties for athletes.

Having athletes check in with their coaches every day for home room could be valuable for many reasons. Give more mentoring, training discussions, better relationships, stretching, college recruiting discussions, and time to track those PE credits for sports participation efforts.

Example: The 6 am swim practice could be extended an additional 30 minutes if the swimmers on the team had pool time instead of home room time.

Suggestion #24:

Athletes at CAPA, but also at Sci-Tech, would be in better situations if those schools had PIAA and WPIAL memberships. Allow kids to represent their schools, even as independents.

A CAPA student should compete and represent CAPA. Same with Sci-Tech students. Especially in individual sports, those athletes could be independent participants playing tennis, swimming in meets, doing golf, racing Cross-Country.

Example: A CAPA swimmer shouldn't need to representing Westinghouse because of feeder patterns. Rather, a CAPA swimmer should be able to step into the WPIAL meet after qualification times were achieved much like a Winchester Thurston student can. Neither CAPA nor WT have full swim teams.

Suggestion #25:

Open the “Olympic Sports Division” to take the place of PPS Intramurals.

A new PPS joint-venture and partnership devoted to Olympic and Lifetime Sports, the Olympic Sports Division, can come to fill the void that occurs with the loss of intramurals. The Olympic Sports Division can be set apart in the budget from the PPS Athletic Department.

PPS Athletics handles the management of football, basketball, soccer and volleyball. PPS Athletics handles the various WPIAL sports teams too.

Meanwhile, this new entity, the Olympic Sport Division, facilitates the management, evaluation, development and finances for the sports of: Swimming, Golf, Tennis, X-Country, Track, Water Polo, Cycling, Triathlon, and Ultimate Frisbee.

Activities for Ice Hockey, Rugby, Bowling, Fencing, Weightlifting, Table Tennis, Diving, Kayak, Crew, Judo and Skiing are a few of the options that should be quickly examined and evaluated. The Olympic Sports Division can consider other partnerships and associations.

In due time, as the Olympic Sports Division takes root, a Community Congress would set policies in a democratic process. Sports participation can be driven by citizens, student desires, Citiparks, market opportunities, sponsors, and operate beyond the nay-sayers and lazy.

Rather than cut 100% of the costs of certain sports out of the PPS budget, put some of that money into a “seed fund” for the Olympic Sports Division. Then expect the Olympic Sports Division to sustain itself. The Olympic Sports Division can be a PPS cost cutting measure.

Outcome: To trim the PPS infrastructure in athletics to football, basketball, volleyball and other key teams in certain sports allows for the birth of the Olympic Sports Division. One day, more sports, more participation, and more people will want to stay in the city.

Some goals for the Olympic Sports Division to negotiate include: paid permits for special events, shared student data, distance coaching, tech advances, PE credit, and booster groups in every school with team and activity web sites, season ticket plans, media guides and junior lessons for younger kids taught by supervised high school athletes.

Example 1: The proposed Olympic Sport Division would have PPS cooperation but be more independent and much like a college sports athletic department that operates as a subsidiary.

Example 2: The Pittsburgh Promise is an organization with a special relationship to PPS. Likewise, Pittsburgh needs an overlap of cooperation in sports and fitness among the city, schools, rec departments and others, including sports foundations.

Example 3: In small municipalities, Rec Departments and local schools constantly overlap in caring for their children and facilities. However, in those smaller townships,the cooperation generally includes one to three people. In Pittsburgh, with so many schools and neighborhoods, the overlap is handled by hundreds of people.

Example 4: CAPA has a Saturday music enrichment program for the whole city. (It was once called CENTERS.) Presently, the River City Brass Band is a sponsor. The effort helps to train young musicians. The Olympic Sports Division can train athletes like Centers trains musicians. But various days and various settings are required in sports.

Suggestion #26:

Remove the enrollment ceiling for Swim & Water Polo Camp as it is a most popular option within Summer Dreamers.

In the 2013 sign-up process for Summer Dreamers, Swim & Water Polo Camp was the most popular first-choice activity option selected by the kids and families of pending participants. Swim & Water Polo Camp enrollment was slated to have 130 slots and more than 260 had made it a first choice. The demand was sky-high. The capacity was increased, thankfully. But furthermore, only the kids in grades 3 and grades 8 were even able to select Swim & Water Polo as an option. The kids in grades 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 did not have a Swim & Water Polo as a choice.

None should be forced to swim. But, all who want to sign up for swimming as a first choice, regardless of grade, should be accommodated as space allows. Swimming can be expanded in many instances.

The PPS board should recognize that swimming is a life-saving activity. Swimming is perfect for summer school. If swimming is getting dropped as a varsity sport, swimming needs to be fully supported in the summer when kids want to swim the most.

Finally, those who had a great experience with Swim & Water Polo in past summers should be able to advance their aquatic experiences in future summers, gaining fitness and skills.

Suggestion #27:

Insure future school sites for Summer Dreamers are ones with swimming pools.

PPS has school buildings with both air-conditioning and swimming pools that are not being used for Summer Dreamers. Westinghouse, Obama, Allderdice, Brashear, Carrick, Oliver, Perry, U-Prep are off the list for the 2014 sites.

Let's stretch efficiency with student time by swimming in the same building as academic classes. Summer Dreamers at PCA and Obama in past years, with the swim pool is down the hall from classrooms, was fantastic. Carmalt and Faison are fine schools, but the kids who swim need to take 4 bus rides a day because there isn't a pool at that school. Kids still love Swim & Water Polo regardless.

The board and superintendent need to communicate to school staffs and principals that school buildings are public assets to be utilized by students throughout the summer. Buff floors on nights and weekends if necessary.

Suggestion #28:

PPS needs more focus on the “end games” with sports. College Sports Scholarships matter.

In sports, there are a number of “end games.” These long-term, monumental, accomplishments ignite motivational fires within kids and communities. All star teams, championships and college recruiting, college sports participation and college scholarships matter.

College sports and talent scholarships should be more pervasive motivators for our youth. Getting a “free ride” pays for tuition, room and board. Plus, college athletes get plenty of instant friends in their teammates. Furthermore, college athletes get to enjoy plenty of time playing their sport. Sports scholarship can take students beyond the borders of Pennsylvania, unlike the Pittsburgh Promise scholarships.

Position: More than $1-million per year is lost by PPS students because few are able to capitalize upon sports scholarships.

The stars and captains on every team and in every sport have NCAA and NAIA opportunities to address. Sadly, too few PPS teams have players benefiting from collegiate-sport scholarships and the recruiting process. Exceptions exist, of course. A tenfold increase could happen if PPS could focus more on the “end game” with its sports programs.

One can't be serious about a college sports scholarship years into the future when short-term trouble fills the vision. Is there practice today? Is there a game next week? Who is going to open the weight room? Who is the coach next season? Is my school going to close? What kind of competition was that? Where do we have training camp in the summers?

PPS needs stability, talent identification, enrichment, honesty and leadership that cares by going to the kids and families to put sports into perspective with clarity. Forming an Olympic Sports Division within PPS to train athletes with a long-term approach, increasing aerobic capacity, measuring growth and striving for scholarships while being rooted in the city would be a monumental change.

Example: In the recent years, those with talent in PPS have been advised to pack-up and move out of the city and attend a school in the WPIAL that gives better hope and has a viable program where dreams of a college-scholarship happen with regularity.

Example, as a swim coach at Plum High School, my conservative claim (and it held true) was for the ongoing delivery of $200,000 in college scholarships for Plum swimmers.

One school in one sport can capture, on average, $200,000 per year if each graduation class averages $50,000 in college / talent scholarships. Math: Two full scholarships of $15,000 per year (1 boy + 1 girl captain) and second captains gains partial scholarships with a value of $10,000 per year. The sum for that class is $50,000. Over the four years, the sum is $200,000.

All the students on all the teams are better suited for college because of their scholastic sports participation. The student athletes, even those who were not starters on their high school teams, get an awareness that better prepares them for college life. Athletes have a more productive experience after their high school sports days. Sports help get students “promise ready.”

Summary: With a quality, year-round aquatics program, our students get to perform at the highest levels in the region and state. With top teams, scholarships are certain. Without the necessary administrative support these scholarships are lost. If this 2014 crisis is turned into an opportunity, and reform measures are made across schools and among various teams, PPS student athletes could earn millions of dollars in college sports-and-talent scholarships.

Suggestion #29:

Tennis is a cheap lifetime sport that can expand.

In high school tennis, there is not even a need to play officials. Tennis has Venus Williams. Public tennis courts are throughout the city. Some need some care, but it would not be too hard to get the courts at U-Prep and CAPA (North Side's Sue Murray) functional with a push from Citiparks. Citiparks can conduct year-round tennis clinics. Community support can be found for tennis too.

Start tennis at CAPA.

Start tennis at U-Prep with Sci-Tech (walking coop).

Get Obama out of its USO coop and have players walk to Highland Park courts or play at the Seminary courts.

Play boys and girls both in the fall and spring so tennis is more of a year-round opportunity for every athlete. Play and host mixed doubles scholastic tournaments in the city and be unique.

If tennis is cut by the PPS Board, tennis could be a part of the Olympic Sports Division and plenty of opportunities can be crafted for tennis players at our schools.

Suggestion #30:

The administration's threat of ending a sport is nearly as terrible as cutting that sport. Slow starvation should be avoided.

If the PPS Board decides to follow the suggestions from Dr. Lane, and if the board intends to swing the budget ax without haste, then announce the cuts to the sports and programs as soon as possible. Immediacy of discussion is needed and desired.

Students, coaches and families don't want to be aboard a sinking ship. The damages to the swim program in the wake of the announcements from Dr. Lane on December 4, 2013, have been severe. To say a team might be cut is a scare tactic that works. Few are going to devote themselves to something that is going to be eliminated.

If programs are cut, PIAA rules allow the students to depart their present school and enroll in another school without penalty.

Example: A sophomore golfer could move out of Obama if golf is cut. That golfer gets to participate in golf right away while attending another school. Obama Academy's, 12 golfers, 30 swimmers and 20 tennis players could depart PPS and continue their education and athletic careers at Shaler, North Allegheny, Woodland Hills, etc. Who knows if a dozen or more kids will depart Obama and Sci-Tech or not.

Suggestion #31:

Getting high school athletes onto college campus and into games with college and adult players can be pervasive with PPS H20, the Olympic Sports Division and the All-City Sports Camps.

PPS students won't miss high school sports as much if they are competing in community and college sports. Greater coordination is needed to make these experiences a priority.

Example 1: The Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference (ECCC) now incorporates high school students into its races. Previously juniors (high school students) were required to race for teams that held USA Cycling High School club licenses, and there are none in PPS. New for 2014, full time high school students are permitted to race in the ECCC with simply a USAC Juniors license. They get to compete as an integral part of the collegiate field. There are 25 high quality juniors races throughout the northeast US in in March and April including feature road races, downtown crits, team time trials, hill climbs and individual time trials.

Cycling has been a Summer Dreamers activity for PPS students for many years.

http://www.ecccblogosphere.com/2014/01/eccc-expands-juniors-racing-in-2014/

A number of great young cyclists, local companies, support institutions and facilities are in Pittsburgh.

Example 2: In water polo, the USA Olympic Development Program and Masters Tournaments are open to high school students.

Grant Rauterkus, Obama 10^th grader, played a 3-day tournament, January 17-19, 2014, at Penn State University and his team, the Hawks, beat Penn State, Penn State Alumni, VMI (Virginia Military), and Johns Hopkins. In 2013, Grant played games against Ohio State, Notre Dame, ARMY, CMU, Pitt, Grove City, Ball State, Cincinnati, and W&J.

USA Water Polo's ODP program has competitions by school grades. His team of 9^th and 10^th graders in the Northeast Zone has players from Andover Prep (MA), Greenwich (CT), and Annapolis, (MD). He gets to travel to Dallas to play other zone teams from around the nation this spring. Last year the competition was in Las Vegas.

Swim and Water Polo Camps have been a part of PPS Summer Dreamers for five years.

Example 3: In the sport of Triathlon at the Club National Championships at Myrtle Beach, SC, in October 2012, a PPS high school athlete competed in the elite division Triathlon getting third. In the summer of 2013, a Mt. Lebanon high school athlete competed with the USA Triathlon team in the United Kingdom. He is a high school swimmer this season again. In the July 2013, at recent North Allegheny graduate went to Brazil for a Triathlon with Team USA.

Example 4: In the May 2013 Pittsburgh Marathon, Sam Lapp, a swimmer, soccer player and IB music student from Obama competed the race. In 2012 he did the half in 1:42. In 2013 he finished in 3:28. He runs now for the club team at Penn State.

Example 5: In the city's first Liberty Mile, August 2012, a PPS student and staff member for the Swim & Water Polo Camp won the Just for Fun race. In the past two years, 70+ participants from Summer Dreamers competed and more than five got medals for their age group finishes.

Suggestion #32:

Let's gladly welcome college and community participants who want to visit, compete and showcase skills at PPS sites.

Plenty of opportunities to host college and community teams and individuals are present and are desired. Sadly, too often the PPS policy has been to only allow students from a single school to be a part of the sports happenings so as to exclude others, few exceptions. Sports are social efforts where playing well with others needs to be rewarded, tolerated and promoted.

With PPS H2O and the Olympic Sports Division, plus with the All-City Sports Camps, athletes, coaches, and boosters should come together frequently in meaningful ways.

Example 1: Chatham University's women's water polo team practiced at Westinghouse in the past due to a temporary pool issue on campus.

Example 2: The Ohio State University men's swim team practiced at Plum High School as my team suspended its workout and heard from the Buckeye coach on a Saturday morning. The high school kids were in awe. Ohio State's team did their warm up swim and then went down to beat Pitt in a meet that afternoon.

Suggestion #33:

Begin an annual PPS Sports Affinity Card.

Community support for PPS sports can build if PPS sports promotes itself. The Olympic Sports Division, PPS H20, All-City Sports Camp, Summer Dreamers and overall PPS Athletics can work in harmony with Citiparks and drive consumer connections with citizen customers and donors. Efforts at marketing with new ventures are always better received.

Larger efforts could plan seeds for other projects too, such as S6, a sports-lecture series. Crowdsource funding from Kickstarter are possible as well.

Suggestion #34a:

Honesty and transparency is past due with my swim-specific and systemic concerns. We are blundering basic program needs such as budgets, boosters and building conditions.

Budgets, boosters, and building conditions are basics survival needs for programs to thrive. The basics glue programs together. They can't be ignored. Power comes to the organized and planned.

As budgets for the sponsoring organizations are tight, more cooperation and more discussion is needed. Additionally, as budgets are tight for the participants and their families, more awareness, planning and thrift is called for. Many of the PPS students can't afford costly club dues, association memberships, personal trainers nor regional and national travel to competitions. These staples of sports are more common in the more affluent communities. In Pittsburgh, we have to work harder and communicate more deeply so wiser decisions can be deployed. We can't waste nor miss-spend any resource as all are precious. Especially our kids.

Example: PPS stopped holding its preseason coaches meetings.

Example: The global, on-going frustrations with a lack of communications among important decision makers in PPS are too many to list.

Suggestion #34b:

Every sports team needs a published budget. At the end of the season, each budget should have a final report. All can be documented online. Audits can be made public.

I've coached since 1976 at many different settings and a budget has always been associated with those teams elsewhere. In the eight sports teams/seasons I've coached in PPS, I've never seen budget.

Example: In other setting, teams always have budgets.

Suggestion #34c:

Formalized, sports booster groups should open throughout the city.

Accountability with every booster group is expected. Every group could have its own bank account, but better would be group line items in a universal, transparent trust account. Each booster group for every sports team should have its own budget line items for booster activities. Plus, every sports team needs its own operational budget line items that is different from the boosters.

Example 1: The Obama High School swim boosters manage the swim banquet and help with a few fun events throughout the season. The boosters have no meetings, no officers, no board, no budget nor bank account.

Example 2: In the fall of 2013, the new athletic coordinator at Obama (L.S.) asked me to gather the parents / boosters and begin to raise money for the school's athletic efforts. The request was a non-starter. Parents and boosters won't raise money for a team when the superintendent talks about cutting that team. Furthermore, initial money for the team should come through student labor and the offering of Saturday Swim Schools / swim lessons. Sadly, the pool is closed to the school's swim teams on Saturdays. The desire for swim practices, yet alone a city-wide swim lessons on Saturdays are just a dream so far.

Example 3: Gender equity among boosters made heated discussions with the prior reform task force members.

Suggestion #34d:

Basic building blocks are broken. Peek at this list Festivus-like list of grievances.

Many support elements for coaches and teams are absent. Requests were brought to the superintendent in November 2012 and again in October 2013. Links to letters can be made public. The good news is that many elements cost less than $1 to supply, but the bad news is that they have yet to be delivered by PPS.

Nominal cost basics that are missing or not accessible, yet repeatedly requested:

Keys should be given to coaches.

PPS IDs should be provided for coaches.

Pghboe.net email address should be provided to every coach.

Wi-fi for tech devices (BYOD = bring your own device) should be provided for coaches.

Passwords to intranets should be presented to coaches.

Cooperation for obtaining coaches re-certification from the American Red Cross should be present for swim coaches (WSI).

Basic mid-sized items that are missing or not accessible, yet repeatedly requested:

Coaches need access to ice machine(s) at all times.

Coaches need an office, even shared office space with a desk, file drawer and storage locker is needed,

Handy access to an AED around the pool and gym is needed.

Record boards, signage, legacy graphics are needed.

White boards, chalk boards and bulletin boards are needed.

Storage cabinets for training devices and event hardware are needed.

Internet ports for streaming video of events are needed.

Computers that can load sport-specific software (admin bypass foils) are needed.

Paid event (swim meet) support personnel (announcer, timing operator, computer operator) are needed. These folks are present and paid for basketball games.

Set of stop watches, clipboards and t-shirts for volunteer meet timers are needed.

Comfort items that are missing and not requested before:

Towels,

laundry use,

team lockers,

team locker room,

team classroom.

It would be great if the swimmers got towels at the pool so they'd not need to have wet gear with them in their school lockers nor have freezing laundry in trunks of cars. The varsity swimmers have not asked for towel services at Obama. Other PPS schools do get towels for those in the pool, even for physical education classes. About 10 years ago, pool matrons, a worker at every school with a pool who took care of towel and suit washing, were terminated.

Requests for laundry of swim towels have been made in the summers given the different population of Summer Dreamers. One PPS Summer Dreamers site, CAPA, was able to get clean towels for the kids. Otherwise, coaches do laundry at their homes on a daily basis in the summers.

Some sports teams make continual use of laundry services for the games and practice uniforms.

Recent victories: In 2013-14, a new bulletin board was put on the wall at the pool at Obama. Furthermore, the lights over the pool are turned on at practices.

Suggestion #34e:
Before being brave and bold, be beautiful.

Obama's swim uniform recap: No meet suits, practice swim suits, warm ups, and other training equipment have been purchased for the Obama swim team by PPS in the past two years. That's prudent. Our eyes were craving a purple and silver eagle with dye-sub design. Perhaps new suits and gear should have been purchased, but PPS saved the money. In 2012-13, the Obama varsity team got new purple eagle swim caps, costing less than $500. The remaining few are still being used again in 2013-14. In 2013-14, nothing was purchased, yet.

Some of the reasons for not buying swim suits for the Obama team with PPS funds comes with the past expectation that the suits would need to be returned at the end of the year and redistributed the following year. Swim suits don't last for 4 years. The life of a typical swim suit is about 4 months. The swim season calls for about 100+ uses. Other team uniforms, for example golf shirts, are heavy duty and are different. Other sports have uniforms that can be passed out year-to-year. That is not the case for Lycra swim suits.

Scholastic swimmers should get, each year:

- nylon practice suit

- a competitive swim suit, Lycra, for meets

- 3 pair of goggles

- 2 (for guys) or 5 (for girls) latex swim caps

- 1 clean towel after each practice and meet

- over-sized pool locker, lock in a team area

- quick-dry cover up shirt

- pair of shorts

- sweat suit (pants / top) * return each year

- over sized swim bag * return each year

- surgical tubing (some are called Stretchies, other might know this as Thera Bands).

Every year, the team / program should get some replacement training equipment, paddles, fins and software. Bigger items, perhaps a video camera, pace clock can be rotated through the years as needed. The school should get one new piece of strength equipment every year.

Suggestion #34f:

The swim pool is an ideal learning laboratory for developing individual and group excellence. Bodies and brains can transform themselves if the building is a worthy and able to absorb such energy and time.

In 2012-13, with the Obama school's move into Peabody's pool, PPS did need to purchase new starting blocks and a Daktronics timing system with touchpads and a six-lane scoreboard, total costs about $40,000. Those great investments should last 10 years.

Two years prior to the move to Peabody, a business plans with suggested correspondence, budget, equipment list and an overall grant application framework including a list of potential funding agencies was sent to PPS administration from a student as part of that student's LTP (long-term project). The student had high expectations that the capital costs of the scoreboards and other equipment enhancements would be funded by outside sources. The student would have advanced those efforts into the marketplace with plenty of advance time before the move so the items could have been secured. But the snag was that a PPS administrators were never did the follow up and give approval to the student to advance the effort to the marketplace. Oh well. Money wasn't the issue. Administrative cooperation was.

To this day, the red-and-black Schenley backstroke flags and lane lines are in use at Obama.

Example: The layout of the facility is not ADA compliant. The locker and bathroom facilities are downstairs.

Example: Entry and exiting of the pool area could occur be greatly improved with use of the side door that leads to the sidewalk. A few lights, a new vestibule and the entry to the pool from outside, without needing to go through the school's front doors would help greatly, especially at 6 am practices. Those doors could be secured in school hours. But getting pool patrons into and out of the pool area for community programs would make sense.

Example: I requested a “walk-through” of the Peabody pool area with PPS the building manager. We are still waiting.

Suggestion #35:

PPS should continue to sponsor its WPIAL swim teams, Obama and Allderdice.

Going above and beyond happens with the Obama Swimmers. Sign of progress: For the past 4 years, our swimmers (Schenley then Obama) got to compete at the PIAA state championships.

Both States and WPIALs, makes life-long memories and great educational experiences with a modest cost to PPS. In 2013, our boys relay teams just missed (by less than half a second) in making it to states in two events in relays that swam faster than any relays in PPS history. The motivation has been significant. Both the boys and girls were able to attend the 2013 WPIAL AA championships and perform beyond expectations.

PPS pays for food and lodging for the coach and swimmers at States. I drove my own car the past few years and didn't seeking gas money nor mileage reimbursement.

With the 2012-13 move of two swim teams (Obama and Allderdice) to the WPIAL, fewer PPS swimmers are going to attend state meets. This is an expected savings for PPS. Bigger savings reside in the fact that PPS / District 8 no longer has a championship meet with pool rental and officials' fees. Those ongoing costs are gone.

In 2014, swimmers from Brashear, Carrick and CAPA (via WHS feeder pattern) will need to attend a different sectional meet, not the WPIAL meet at Pitt, nor the discontinued D8 meet. The travel for that meet, in State College, is an extra expense. Only 2 swimmers, one boy and one girl, are expected to attend in 2014. These position paper plans calling for coops means all the local kids that qualify go to the WPIAL meet.

Suggestions #36:

PPS should keep funding sports teams with well managed game schedules.

Generally, swimming has fewer competitions than most other sports. Basketball might have 20 games for boys, 20 for girls, 15 for JV boys and 15 for JV girls. That is, on average, 70 games for basketball to swimming's 15 at one high school.

Varsity swimming teams need 10 meets to qualify for PIAA Championships. A season of 12 to 15 meets is ideal. It is better to have quality meets. Meets among city swim teams are desired.

Football in Pennsylvania is too long. The state championships is played later than any other state. A kid who plays every game for a team going to Hershey plays in more games than a NCAA Division I player.

Suggestions #37:

PPS should value sports where boys and girls can train and compete together.

A prime lesson of sports is learning how to play well with others, and having boys and girls together in sport is fantastic. Boys and girls get to be together in athletic settings in swimming, golf, cross country and track. Tennis plays at different seasons, but tennis has mixed doubles elsewhere.

Varsity swimming teams do appeal to both boys and girls. The training and competition events are held in the same places and at the same times. Life is co-ed. Much of swimming is too. The top girl swimmers in the city can beat the boys. Fine. I am an advocate for blended team experiences.

Varsity golf can be co-ed too. Likewise, in tennis, boys and girls can practice together. Track and Cross Country are also able to be blended among boys and girls for practices.

Of course, boys and girls both play basketball and volleyball. But those squads are always their own clique with different practices and games, if not seasons.

Water polo is a sport that is often played in a co-ed fashion, with boys and girls on the same team. When different boys and girls teams are established, they generally practice at the same times and often travel to the same tournaments as a unit.

A philosophical mistake might plague PPS if it chooses to support sports teams with segregated genders. Olympic sports and aquatic sports have a blended gender framework. That distinction of supporting sports opportunities and intramurals that appeal equally to ban accommodate both boys and girls is something that administrators and courts should care to notice.

Sport	Boys & Girls Mingle	Separation of Genders	Position Paper Advancements here
Swimming	Same season, same meets and same practice schedule.	Different heats of same races.	Seeking unified head coach for both boys and girls squads with assistants. Desire blended teams. In the future, “Adam & Eve Events” could be established in PPS H20 as an exhibition / invite.
Water polo	Often true co-ed teams with girls and boys as equals. Same season, mostly same tournaments, same practice schedule.	Larger programs have both boys and girls teams, not co-ed.	Younger kids playing water polo are almost always together. Boys and girls are always blended at Sports & Water Polo Camps and All-City Sports Camps.
Golf	Same course, time, season, practice schedule and matches. Often girls right in with boys.	Different tee locations.	Obama boy golfers played against the Brentwood girl golfers in 2013.
Tennis		Boys in spring and girls in fall.	Possible Mixed Doubles tournament in Olympic Sports Division
Football	Never mixed	Girls get pom-poms.
Soccer	Never mixed. Both happen in fall.	Different matches, practices. Both happen in fall.	All City Sports Camp would prepare both boys and girls in co-ed fashion in summers.
Basketball	Never mixed. Both happen in winter.	Different game schedule. Different practices. Different coaches.	All City Sports Camp would train both boys and girls in co-ed fashion in summers.

Sports with Different Boys & Girls Squads (PPS Athletics)	Soccer, football, volleyball for girls (fall) Basketball, wrestling (winter) Baseball, softball, volleyball for boys (spring)
Sports with Co-Ed / Blended Squads (Olympic Sports Division)	Water polo, X-Country (fall) Swimming & Diving (winter) Track & Field (spring) Golf Tennis

Suggestion #38:

Highly competitive swimming helps with school attendance. Don't punish nor eliminate the positive aspects of sports. Rather, promote facilitate and replicate.

Our swim team t-shirt slogan: “Winning Formula: Show up + Score more points.” Showing up matters. In August and September of 2013, a United Way funded PR blitz with PPS stressed school attendance. Swimmers understand that message and live it.

On many mornings in the past years, 25+ students arrived at the school for 6 AM swim practices. This season the Obama Swim Team holds 6 AM practices every school day (if no 2-hour delay). In past years, the 6 am practices would span into the fall and spring too.

At 7:15 am, as swim practice ends, swimmers are at the school. They are present, clean and ready to fuel their bodies and brains. Kids attending AM practice are not tardy for school.

Kids in quality, competitive programs understand that 6 am practices are essential. Champions understand the sacrifices and hard work are worthy. AM swim practices don't happen every where, as not all the teams are doing all they can.

One school day distinction between swimmers and other athletes are AM practices. Many college teams in other sports hold AM practices for their athletes. It would be great to have open gym and weight lifting times at 6 am for students, before school, more often at PPS. Perhaps with the Olympic Sports Division and efforts of PPS H2O, the early bird practices can be with more students, not only swimmers.

Suggestion #39:

Research supports the benefits of the investment into sports.

The fact that high school athletes tend to perform better in school than their peers is well established. High school sports participation is associated with several positive academic outcomes such as higher GPA, fewer disciplinary referrals, lower absenteeism and dropout rates, higher college aspirations and attendance, and stronger commitment to school (Eccles & Barber, 1999; Marsh, 1993; Sabo, Melnick, & Vanfossen, 1989; Snyder & Spreitzer, 1992; Whitley, 1998). Upon finding that athletic participation had significant positive effects on 14 of 22 senior and post-secondary educational outcomes and no negative impact on the others, Marsh concluded that, contrary to Coleman’s zero-sum expectations, “participation in sport apparently adds to – not detracts from – time, energy, and commitment to academic pursuits” (1993:35).

A preponderance of research has linked high school sports participation with positive academic outcomes. However, the relationship is believed to have strength and direction contingent upon the dimension of athletic involvement under consideration, and the time span over which predictor and outcome are measured.

The context of sports for the city residents, in a larger debate among schools, parks and clubs, and the linkage between sports and the adolescent with neighborhoods and a patchwork of school experiences, given charter and specialized smaller schools, is should be studied.

These plans offer significant changes and hopes of some sports stability among the students and families in Pittsburgh.

Sport & population	PPS Plan	Rauterkus suggests:
MS Swimming & Elem Swimming	Cut	Cut from PPS Athletics, AND, Establish PPS H20 with seed $ to manage and enhance aquatic activities. Make MS swimming at 6-12 schools in spring with WPIAL competition.
HS Swimming at Perry and Oliver	Cut	Cut from PPS Athletics. Form PPS H2O with programming assistance with North Allegheny
HS Swimming at Carrick	Cut	Keep with PPS Athletics but support from PPS H20 and coop with Bishop Canevin / PCA
HS Swimming at Brashear	Cut	Keep with PPS Athletics but support from PPS H2O and coop with Seaton LaSalle
HS Swimming at Allderdice	Cut	Keep within WPIAL. Insert extra PPS H20 support.
HS Swimming at Obama	Cut	Keep with WPIAL. Insert extra PPS H20 support. Phase out coop with Sci-Tech.
HS Swimming at Sci-Tech	Cut	Phase out coop with PPS Obama in 2 years. Insert extra PPS H20 support. Swimmers in WPIAL as Indie participants.
HS Swimming at CAPA	Cut / Absent	Begin. Insert extra PPS H20 support. Swimmers in WPIAL as Indie participants.
HS & MS Swimming at Westinghouse	Cut / HS is Absent	Begin with coop with Homewood Children's Village and extra PPS H20 support.
HS Diving	Absent	Begin with support from PPS H20, All-City Sports Camps, Summer Dreamers 2015. For Perry and Westinghouse.
HS & MS Swim & Water Polo	Fixture in Summer Dreamers for 5 years	Keep in Summer Dreamers. Expand to allow additional participation for grades 3 and above if first choice activity. Match supply and demand via activity partnerships, presently with BGC. Later to move to PPS H20. Expand with Pgh Combined team in PA Water Polo League, practices mainly at Westinghouse in 2014. Swim lessons and other activities with PPS H20 and All-City Sports Camps.
Extra Swimming: Jobs experiences come for some HS students	4 hour for 28 days with SDA partner BGC	Offer job program to best and brightest as swim instructors and lifeguard. Enhance with PPS H20.
MS Volleyball	Cut	Cut. Put volleyball into All-City Sports Camps
MS Wrestling	Cut	Cut. Put wrestling into All-City Sports Camps
HS Tennis at Allderdice	Cut	Keep within PPS Athletics.
HS Tennis at Obama	Cut	End Obama co-op with USO. Tennis team goes into Olympic Sports Division. Get a Citiparks tennis coach to do clinics with teams.
HS Tennis at Sci-Tech & U-Prep	Cut	Expand tennis with Olympic Sports Division. Seek to rehab tennis courts at U-Prep with Citiparks. Get a Citiparks tennis coach to do clinics with teams.
HS Tennis at CAPA	Absent	Expand tennis with Olympic Sports Division. Seek to rehab tennis courts at Sue Murray (North Side) with Citiparks. Get a Citiparks tennis coach to do clinics with teams.
HS Tennis at Brashear, Carrick, Westinghouse	Cut	Expand tennis within Olympic Sports Division. Get a Citiparks tennis coach to do clinics with teams.
Extra Tennis for HS, MS, & Elem.	Absent	Expand tennis with All-City Sports Camps and Summer Dreamers 2015 too.
HS Golf at Allderdice	Cut	Keep Allderdice golf in the WPIAL and add Sci-Tech and Obama to Dice in a coop phase but without transportation $ from PPS. Form a JV PPS Golf League with help of First Tee of Pgh.
HS Golf at Obama	Cut	Allow Obama golfers to join Allderdice for existing years in HS as part of a coop. Coop expires in 3 years. Long term: Expand golf at Obama with partnership with First Tee of Pgh and the Olympic Sports Division.
HS Golf at Sci-Tech	Cut	Allow Sci-Tech golfers to join Allderdice for existing years in HS as part of a coop. Coop expires in 3 years. Expand golf at Sci-Tech with partnership with First Tee of Pgh and the Olympic Sports Division.
HS Golf at Brashear, Carrick and Perry	Cut	Expand golf with partnership with First Tee of Pgh and the Olympic Sports Division.
Extra Golf for HS, MS & Elem	Some. Golf is part of PPS Physical Education with a partnership. Golf is part of PPS Summer Dreamers 2013.	Expand golf and speed golf with partnership with First Tee of Pgh and the Olympic Sports Division. Expand golf with All-City Sports Camps.
Disk Golf, Speed Golf	Absent	Expand with Olympic Sports Division and All-City Sports Camps.
Cross Country	Keep	Cut from PPS Athletics and move to new Olympic Sports Division Include within All City Sports Camp Cross Country helps to established blended gender, Olympic Sports and Triathlon efforts.
Track and Field	Keep	Cut from PPS Athletics and move to new Olympic Sports Division Include within City Sports Camp
Triathlon	Absent	Include within All City Sports Camp Enhance with PPS H20
Cycling	Rec Cycling is part of SDA with MGR. Race Cycling is Absent.	Keep with SDA. Include cycling with All City Sports Camp and Olympic Sports Division.
HS Intramurals	Cut	Form Olympic Sports Department. Enhance with All City Sports Camp
HS Baseball in D8 at Perry, Westinghouse, Obama	Keep	Cut. Supplement with All City Sports Camp
Football at Obama with USO	Keep	Phase Obama from USO Coop over 3 years. No daily transportation $ from PPS Board for Obama students. Play football with enrollment to other PPS Schools, not Obama.
Football at Allderdice, Westinghouse, Carrick, Brashear, Perry and U-Prep/Sci-Tech	Keep	Think again. Football players get extra support with Olympic Sports Division, mainly in weight room, year round. Extra fitness with All City Sports Camp. Extra cross-train and fitness with PPS H20 too.
Soccer at all PPS	Keep	Keep as part of PPS Athletics. Players get support with Olympic Sports Division, year round. Bonus: Extra fitness with All City Sports Camp.
HS Volleyball at PPS	Keep	Keep as part of PPS Athletics. Players get support with Olympic Sports Division, year round. Bonus: Extra fitness with All City Sports Camp.
Baseball at Allderdice, Carrick, Brashear	Keep	Keep as part of PPS Athletics. Players get support with Olympic Sports Division, year round. Bonus: Extra fitness with All City Sports Camp.
Softball	Keep	Keep as part of PPS Athletics. Players get support with Olympic Sports Division, year round. Bonus: Extra fitness with All City Sports Camp.
HS Wrestling	Keep	Keep as part of PPS Athletics. Players get support with Olympic Sports Division, year round. Bonus: Extra fitness with All City Sports Camp.
MS Wrestling	Cut	Cut. Players get support with Olympic Sports Division, year round. Bonus: Extra fitness with All City Sports Camp.
MS Volleyball	Cut	Cut. Players get support with Olympic Sports Division, year round. Bonus: Extra fitness with All City Sports Camp.
Elementary Track	??	Cut. Players get support with Olympic Sports Division and PPS H20 year round. Bonus: Extra fitness with All City Sports Camp.

Note: The conclusion was cut and will be part of a later release.

Footnotes:

PIAA Sports List:

Boys Sports:

Baseball	Soccer	Basketball	Swimming & Diving	Bowling	Tennis
Cross Country	Football	Track & Field (Indoor)	Track & Field (Outdoor)	Golf	Volleyball
Lacrosse	Water Polo	Rifle	Wrestling

Girls Sports:

Softball	Soccer	Basketball	Swimming & Diving	Bowling	Tennis
Cross Country	Competitive Spirit	Track & Field (Indoor)	Track & Field (Outdoor)	Golf	Volleyball
Lacrosse	Water Polo	Rifle	Field Hockey

Footnote Article: Rules on Transfers

PIAA Constitution and Bylaws: Section 6. Termination of Team(s) for Budgetary Reasons.

http://www.piaa.org/assets/web/documents/Section%20I.%20%202008-2009%20Constitution%20and%20By-laws.pdf

Notwithstanding any other provision under this ARTICLE, a

student enrolled at, or who would have otherwise been promoted

to, a PIAA member school which ceases, primarily for budgetary

reasons, to sponsor one or more of its Teams (the "Terminating

School") may Transfer to, and be eligible to participate in

interscholastic athletics at, another PIAA member school (the

"Receiving School") under the following conditions:

a. Within one year immediately preceding the date of

Transfer, the student must have been a member of the

Team which was subsequently terminated primarily for

budgetary reasons, by the Terminating School or, if being

promoted, was a member of a Feeder School's Team in that

sport;

b. The student, because of the termination of the Team

primarily for budgetary reasons, Transfers to a public school

or Private School located within the public school district of

the student's residence or to such a school located in a

contiguous public school district;

c. The student must submit to the District Committee of

the student's residence a properly executed PIAA Member

School Athletic Transfer Waiver Request Form specifying

that the reason for the Transfer is the termination of the

Team, primarily for budgetary reasons, by the Terminating

School, accompanied by certification by the Terminating

School's Principal confirming that (1) the Team was

terminated; (2) the Team was terminated primarily for

budgetary reasons; and (3) the student participated within

one year immediately preceding the date of the student’s

Transfer on the terminated Team at the Terminating School

or on one of its Feeder School Team’s in that sport;

d. Upon receipt of the applicable Form and certifications,

the District Committee shall provide confirmation to the

student and the Receiving School’s Principal that the

student is eligible at the Receiving School in the sport which

had been terminated primarily for budgetary reasons by the

Terminating School;

e. A student desiring to play any other sports at the

Receiving School must so indicate such intention upon

submission of the PIAA Member School Athletic Transfer

Waiver Request Form (a supplemental Form may be

submitted later if the student does not know at the time of

the initial submission whether the student will participate in

additional sports at the Receiving School). The applicable

District Committee may conduct an inquiry as to whether the

student's Transfer was materially motivated in some way by

an athletic purpose relating to that sport and, if it so finds,

may declare the student ineligible to participate in sports

other than the terminated sport for a period of one year

immediately following the date of the student’s Transfer.

The student may, however, re-enroll at the Terminating

School and remain eligible to participate in all sports at that

school. Upon such re-enrollment, the student is not later

entitled to eligibility under this Section should the student

again Transfer for the same terminated sport.

f. Should the Terminating School reinstate the terminated

sport in a future year, a student who has transferred is

permitted to Transfer back to the Terminating School and

shall, without further action, is automatically eligible to

participate in all sports at the Terminating School.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require any

PIAA member school to accept a student requesting to Transfer

to that school.

This Section is not applicable where the Terminating School

has entered into a Cooperative Sponsorship of a Sport

Agreement with any other PIAA member school to permit

participation by students at the Terminating School in the

terminated sport.

Any PIAA member school, or affiliated personnel or persons,

which in any way recruits students from a Terminating School is

subject to the provisions of ARTICLE VI, TRANSFERS,

RESIDENCE, AND RECRUITING, Section 7, Recruiting, of the

PIAA By-Laws.

Footnote article: A cautionary tale about the fate of sports and other extracurricular activities where many twists and turns happen with various school districts.

As of last year, the PIAA (Pennsylvania's Interscholastic Athletic Association) says kids are allowed to transfer to other schools and school districts to play sports elsewhere if the athletic program is eliminated from their district’s budget. Prior transfer regulations stipulated that a transfer from one school to another that is “materially motivated in some way by an athletic purpose” resulted in the student-athlete needing to sit out of sports for a year of high school. Now PA kids can uproot and compete right away after the budget ax swings and cuts their sport in their home school.

One PA sports administrator was quoted in the paper saying, “The kids want to compete, and the parents want them to be able to compete. So if the state association doesn’t change its rules, parents are going to pick up and move to a school district in a state where their kid can compete.” The worry was not about kids moving from one district to another within Pennsylvania, but rather about moving to another state.

The South-Western City (Ohio) School District cut sports out of its budget in fall 2009. The crisis was temporary, and the district reinstated sports in the winter. But by then the damage was done. More than 100 student-athletes transferred out of the one school district while following regulations of the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Ohio had fiscal issues in the early 2000s.

South-Western has four high schools in Division 1 (the top classification in Ohio high school sports). Like Pittsburgh, South-Western is one of the biggest school districts in the state. Those 103 transfers made an average of 25 kids per school. “I think the district felt the impact of the departures of some key kids who thought they might miss their senior [seasons]. That’s significant if a lot of them don’t come back.” Despite the reinstatement of sports in the winter, many of these athletes never returned. Two years later, the lasting impact of the exodus was still apparent at some schools.

“It was sad. I think, when you drop programs, kids find other interests. It was hard to get them back up and running again.”

“We had another school that did this 20 years ago, and it took them years and years to recover and experience the success they had prior to the dropping of their programs.”

“In the couple of instances where this has happened and school districts thought it would be a great money-saving tactic, it didn’t turn out to be so, because when they didn’t offer these programs they had large numbers of students leaving the district. State reimbursement is based on the number of students enrolled,” said Bob Gardner, executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations.

“Measures like these always sound good to the community at first because they think, ‘We’re putting education first,’ but I think sometimes they don’t realize they are cutting out the heart and soul of the school district.”

The cuts to some sports proposed by Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent, Linda Lane, are not expected to be temporary. They'll be forever. Families interested in competitions with those sports are going to flee the district forever more, unless the alternative plans being proposed, such as PPS H2O, All-City Sports Camps and the Olympic Sports Division can gain traction and get the necessary approval from school and city officials.

Then there’s the option of two or three schools collaborating to form a cooperative agreement in any number of their athletic programs. PIAA regulations allow a co-op to be created among two or three schools, if one school is at or below the enrollment cap of 300 boys or 300 girls. Perhaps the Carrick and Brashear swim teams, rather than being cut fully, could be merged with the swim teams of Bishop Canevin and Seaton LaSalle. Presently, both the Catholic schools are renting pool space from PPS anyway. A coop could give the students better opportunities to play well with others and save those sports teams while using the existing swim pools in the public schools.

Some source content: http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2011/05/going_deep_addition_of_juniata.html