http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/06/09/1224297/idaho-high-school-association.html Above is the link to the article citing that Wrestling will be cut from 16 dates to 15 dates. Wrestling was the sport that was actually cut the least from it's number of dates. You will also notice that football, volleyball and basketball were sports that did not have dates cut - most likely because they bring in money in terms of attendance. In my opinion this is the first step in what could be more cuts in the next few years to come. As mentioned in several threads for the last few months, schools are dropping programs and some are rumored to be dropping programs due to the economic situation in the state. It is unfortunate as we see this happening at all levels of the sport. We all know that is it ten times more difficult to have wrestling reinstated once it is dropped. I encourage all coaches, i f you have not done so already to be sharing your ideas on how you can stretch your budgets, raise funds and give your schools no economic reason for cutting your program. Share busses, donate used gear, and ban together to keep the sport.

Why are our schools hurting so bad when we have this wonderful lottery in Idaho. Helping schools was their #1 platform and I haven't seen it. I would love to see a breakdown of where the lottery money goes.

That is a very good question. I'd like to see a diagram of how the pie is split up. Maybe legislation need to be done to help save sports in schools.

http://www.idaholottery.com/whereTheMoneyGoes/ The above link gives you a break down of where the money goes...apparently Boise received 1.5 million last year and Meridian received 2 million ( the two largest districts in the state). The operating cost for the entire meridian school district per school day is approximately 800,000- 1,000,0000.

The problem, in my opinion, lies in the fact that district officials and school boards are more willing to cut programs and teacher salaries than they are willing to look at overhead costs. Consider this... How much overhead cost could be saved if Idaho Falls went from two school districts to one? What about Blackfoot and Snake River in one district? Even more compelling is Twin Falls County, where (if I am not mistaken) no fewer than 10 separate school districts exist? The Boise, Nampa and Meridian school districts are all much more efficient in their cost management efforts. Why? Could it be that they have much more reasonable overhead-to-school/teacher/student ratios? I believe that is a very big reason... School District officials and school boards in many Idaho cities are more willing to pull the rugs out from under their teachers and students than they are willing to trim a little off the top!

Team Idaho, I agree with you that many smaller disricts need to consolidate into one district - in some cases it needs to be 3-5 districts combining. However, when it comes to larger districts and the number of students being serviced I am not convinced it would be cost effective. I am not sure about some of the other larger districts, but in Meridian you may want to check out what they have done to cut positions at the top. Meridian has done a good job of trimming overhead - they have shaved a lot of positions at the top and cut salaries as well. All this to say, that you can only cut so far until it's extracurricular activities that get cut...or it's a major pay to play system that is self funding like clubs and community sports activities

Utah population: 2.7 million and 44 school districts. Idaho population: 1.5 million and 120+ school districts. There is a lot of overhead that could be cut.

Gatorbear makes the point more eloquently than I did...numbers do speak loudly sometimes, don't they!

There are many "districts" with fewer than 100 students in our state...so I couldn't agree more that there needs to be re-alignment. The problem remains the same in the meantime...

Go to vouchers for school choice and pay to play. Is not that more the "Old school" American WAY.