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Charlie Adams, the N.C. High School Athletic Association executive director, said the organization's board would look for ways to distribute interest revenue from the group's $11.5 million endowment and to find money in the NCHSAA operating budget to give to member schools.
The board is expected to reinvest a percentage of the interest income in the endowment. Another portion will be returned to the schools and the third share will be used for grants and programs. Only interest earnings will be used. The principal will not be touched.
That news was happily received by Charlotte-area schools being hurt by the economy and a local gas shortage.
“Many people, and schools in North Carolina, are hurting,” Adams said. “People are unemployed and can't find work. Prices are escalating. These are tough times.”
When the NCHSAA board meets in December, Adams said the first order of business will be discussing ways to help member schools. And local school officials can't wait.
“We're all members of the association and I don't see why we couldn't reap the benefits of the endowment,” said Garinger athletics director Claire Gardin. “Anytime you can get money that you know you don't have to pay back, it's wonderful.”
Garinger is one of Mecklenburg County's worst-off financially. The field house and football field need work, as do other facets of its athletic program.
“We get the basics, but it would be nice to do something extra for the kids every now and then, maybe give them a sweat suit that other schools' booster clubs can produce money for,” Gardin said.
Adams said the NCHSAA will try to help schools like Garinger in other ways, too. He said his organization has sped up plans to ensure every member school has an automated external defibrillator (AED).
The NCHSAA surveyed its schools and 131 don't have an AED. The NCHSAA plans to have one in every school by December.
The group is providing more than $190,000 for the machines. The rest of the $200,000 expense is being covered by a $10,000 grant.
“It's well past time for that,” said Myers Park athletics director Greg Clewis, whose school has two AEDs. “Nobody plans for anybody to go down with some type of heart failure, but if it does happen, you want to do the best you can because time is critical. If you can stabilize that person until the next level of care arrives, it's huge.”
In addition to the AEDs, the NCHSAA will create a program to distribute some of the interest from the endowment.
Schools may submit a grant proposal to a review committee and receive up to $5,000 per year. The grants are to be used for programs that address sportsmanship, character, leadership, health and wellness, coaches' education and citizenship.
Adams said the board will also examine ways to give higher allowances for travel, meals and accommodations for playoff teams. It also is expected to consider allowing schools to keep all the revenue from first-round playoff games.
Any additional funding – or payment relief – will be welcome, area member school officials say.
“This is appropriate timing for the high school association due to the economy and challenges facing large urban systems as well as smaller systems,” said Vicki Hamilton, director of athletics for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. “Right now, everyone is going after the same dollar, whether it's increased prices for concert tickets or movie theaters that have just announced increases or whether or not you pay $5 to go to a high school football or basketball game. We can no longer just rely on our gate receipts.”
