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Novato Unified School District (NUSD) is facing significant financial challenges and athletics are among the programs affected. As the district works to close a growing budget deficit, officials have decided to cut more than $60,000 from the San Marin High School sports program, raising concerns among the students, coaches, and families who rely on athletics as an important part of school life.
San Marin sophomore and varsity swimmer Andy Larson believes that the budget cuts could negatively affect how student athletes feel about their school and their sport.
“[The cuts] could make kids feel like their school doesn’t care about them,” Larson said. “It could demotivate or discourage kids, and that could be bad for the level of play San Marin holds itself to.”
One of the biggest reasons for the financial strain is the loss of COVID-19 relief funding, which schools relied on heavily during the pandemic. As that funding expired, districts like NUSD were left with programs that were no longer fully supported by their regular funding sources. Additionally, changes in state funding and student enrollment have made balancing the budget even more difficult.
Athletics programs are a significant part of the high school experience, providing students with opportunities to build teamwork, discipline, and school pride. San Marin sports teams bring students together and often represent the community in league competition. For many students, athletes are also a pathway to college opportunities and scholarships.
The proposed cuts have created uncertainty about how sports programs will operate moving forward. Sophomore Ada Bartholo, who is on the varsity soccer and lacrosse teams, believes that the budget cuts could reduce the resources that teams rely on throughout the season.
“No teams will get cut, but I think the resources that every team has will decrease,” Bartholo said. “For example, merch for your team, there’s going to be less because it’s going to come out of the coach’s budget and not the school.”
In response to the potential cuts, some community members have begun discussing ways to support athletics through fundraising and community partnerships. Booster clubs, parent organizations, and local businesses may pay a large portion. The San Marin Sports Booster president, Janeen Brady, believes that San Marin has a strong community behind them that will help cover some of the costs from the budget cuts.
“San Marin has always had great community support,” Brady said. “With all of the anticipated cuts, we are going to need the support of the community more than ever.”
The future of San Marin athletics does depend on how the district and community respond to these financial challenges. San Marin hopes to keep its athletic programs accessible and competitive, but the situation also raises larger questions about how long schools can depend on donations to fund essential parts of student life.
