AUBURN — If the school budget proposal is approved later this spring, the youth football program run by the city’s recreation department will be taken over by the school district, eliminating participation fees and making it more accessible to students.
For years, the department has run a program for elementary and middle school students. Parents pay $180 for their child to participate.
Under the new approach, the school budget would fund the program.
“We want sports to include everyone,” city Recreation Specialist Darcey Gardiner said. “When you hear a kid say that they can’t play because they don’t have enough money to play, it’s heartbreaking. You never ever want to hear that from a kid or have (money) be a reason why they can’t do things.”
Although the recreation department has some scholarships available for students who may not be able to afford the fees, Gardiner said many families are unaware it is an option.
“To hear about the amount of kids that are now going to be able to play because this sport is not costing them or their parents any money, it’s going to do nothing but benefit the program and the kids that we have here in the city,” Gardiner said.
The program would cost the district $9,800 in its first year, according to Superintendent Cornelia Brown. Some of this money is for one-time costs, such as updated equipment and uniforms, Athletic Director Todd Sampson said.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without middle school and high school athletics, and if we can reduce a barrier of ($180 so) that one kid or 10 kids now have an opportunity to experience middle school football, that’s exciting to me,” Sampson said. “We’re going to put them in a positive activity around positive coaches around competition, and I’m a big believer in athletics. The more kids we can get involved, the better off they will be and the better off our community will be.”
Sampson said an after-school program will also eliminate the need for parents to drive their children to practice, another barrier for some students. Games will be played at Walton Field, however practices will take place at the middle school on Court Street.
If the change is approved by the School Committee and the City Council, the middle school will begin offering the sport this fall.
“It really makes sense for the school department to oversee the program,” Brown said. “It will become a great feeder program as our other athletics programs do for the high school. The kids will get a greater exposure playing other middle school teams.”
The city and school district have discussed the possibility of shifting the program to the middle school for a number of years. It was last proposed during the spring of 2020, but was cut due to financial concerns in the early months of the pandemic, according to Brown.
Auburn Middle School runs a number of athletic programs, including basketball, soccer, baseball and softball.
In Lewiston, the middle school football program is run by the district.
If adopted, Auburn recreation would retain it youth football programs for grades three to six.
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