Columnist Spencer Patterson: District eliminates middle school athletics

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, April 11, 2002 | 11:48 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers high school sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at spencer@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4085.

For the second time in a decade, Southern Nevada is officially without middle school athletics.

Six years after the Clark County School District re-introduced middle school sports by adding boys and girls basketball, the District has cut those programs from its budget again, CCSD Athletic Director Larry McKay confirmed.

"It's a cost-cutting measure," McKay said. "It was not an easy decision, but with the budget the way it is, athletics had to make a contribution. I brought forward a number of proposals and that was the one (the School Board) accepted."

McKay said cutting boys and girls basketball will save the District approximately $345,000 annually, factoring in costs such as hiring officials, hall monitors, ticket takers and school police officers and transporting athletes, cheerleaders and band members to and from events.

"My personal opinion was we should have had more programs at the middle school level, but basketball was the only one offered," McKay said. "And when you look at the athletes involved, it's really only 30 kids at each school. Not that that should be dismissed, but they were the only ones participating."

Back in the 1970s and '80s, Southern Nevada was home to several middle school athletic programs, ranging from basketball to volleyball to track and field, before they became a victim of budget cuts.

Foothill will host basketball camps for boys and girls in grades 6-9 (June 12-15) and in grades 2-5 (June 12-14). The cost of $75 ($60 for the younger session) includes instruction and a T-shirt. To register or for more information, call Kevin Soares at 799-3500 (x269) or 897-6355.

The Baron Davis Next Level Basketball Camp will host a session at Las Vegas High July 8-12 for boys and girls entering grades 4-10. The cost of $270 includes instruction, T-shirt and picture with NBA player Baron Davis. For more information, call 877-996-5232 or visit www.nlaea.org.