Athletics – Team Sports, Booster Clubs and County Department Responsibilities
Guest Speaker: Ron Sebree, Athletic Director, DCSS

ELPC Minutes
Medlock Elementary School
April 16, 2008
Welcome & Intros

Co-President Terracer Earnest called the meeting to order and Medlock Principal Fred Hammonds welcomed attendees to the home of the mighty Mustangs. Terracer introduced Board Chair Cassandra Anderrson-Littlejohn and Representative Kevin Levitas. She asked Principals and Administrative staff for self-introductions.

Athletics – Team Sports, Booster Clubs and County Department Responsibilities
Guest Speaker: Ron Sebree, Athletic Director, DCSS

Co-President Faye Andresen introduced the guest speaker, Ron Sebree. Ron, an All American football player, has been a Health and PE teacher, Coach, Assistant Principal, County Athletic Coordinator, and is now the Athletic Director of DeKalb County.

-Ron introduced his staff in attendance and presented a Power Point, 'School Activities: The Other Half of Education'. [Contact Mike Cammack - michael_f_cammack@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us – for Power Point.]

-Ron considers athletics vital to DeKalb and his number one goal is to let the community know what his department is doing to support local schools and students. He is a member of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Executive Committee which emphasizes sportsmanship as the key to educating leaders. The GHSA Sportsmanship Announcement must be read at each sanctioned event and the GHSA Sportsmanship Report tracks violations. Some examples of concern in DeKalb: basketball – 27 ejections; soccer - 38 concerns. Other sportsmanship issues include eligibility, administrative violations, ethics violations, misc. violations (finances, lack of amateur status).

-The Athletics Dept. operates on a 1 million dollar budget. It is together with Food Services in the County budget because they both create revenue. Athletics produces revenue with gate receipts. Annual expenses include region dues for 19 high schools, security at all events for high schools, middle schools, and stadiums.

-Due to budget constraints, expenditures for uniforms and equipment at our 19 high schools occur on a 3 year rotation. For our 20 middle schools, there is a 4-year rotation. There is a problem with missing equipment. Our local schools need to do a better job of being responsible for equipment.

-Bettie Key and Karen Lowery, from the Athletics Accounting staff, reviewed revenue collection and processing. Mandatory training is required annually for Gym and Stadium Managers. The County uses a very strict procedure for handling and double-checking ticket sales and gate receipts.

-Mike Cammack, Athletic Coordinator, noted that each school and stadium is assigned a liaison in the Athletics Dept.

-Scott Coleman, Adapted Sports Coordinator, oversees Grades 1-12 sports for kids with physical disabilities. 90% of these kids do go on to college. These events are very worthwhile but do not produce revenue.

-Chris Chilton, Athletic Specialist, said several of our teams are in the running to make the playoffs.

-Jennifer Hiott, Marketing Associate, is in charge of following Board policies and procedures re: Booster Clubs. All are invited to a Booster Club meeting at the East Campus, Bldg. 5831, on May 8.
[See DCSS Board Policy re: Booster Clubs: https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/ePolicy/policy.as...... ]

Q & A

Q. Are rumors true that Booster Clubs will put money into one pot which will then be distributed to all the sports at the school?
A. This is a decision for the school's principal.

Q. What is the rationale for charging for middle school track events but not the high school events?
A. Middle school participation is very good and ticket sales recoup revenue. Ticket sales require expenses (security, stadium manager, ticket takers) and are not cost effective with low participation.

Q. Dekalb has 3 pools and 19 high schools. Where is the budget for swimming pool funding?
A. This would be in the Facilities budget. Pat Pope is the head of that.

Q. What about Lacrosse in DeKalb?
A. It is in GHSA now. There is some talk about Lacrosse in DeKalb but no funding yet.

Q. You mentioned missing equipment. Could you require it be turned in before issuing the last report card?
A. This is a local school issue. Bills are sent to Principals.

Q. What about maintenance of equipment (e.g. sprinklers) provided by Booster Clubs?
A. Principals may submit work orders.

Q. Are raffles against Board policy? Can raffle tickets be sold on school grounds?
A. Students may not be involved in ticket sales. Not sure where tickets may or may not be sold.

Q. Is there a rule against requiring a participation fee to play in a sport?
A. Yes, Board policy prohibits a participation fee. Low parent participation in Booster Clubs can be a problem.

Q. Can coaches collect money?
A. No.

Q. What about advance football ticket sales with a credit card?
A. We have tried this before and not been successful.

Wrap-Up

Faye suggested an ELPC meeting next year with Facilities reps to address Athletics needs. Terracer reported that, as a result of our Myth Busters meeting, a special request was made for special funding relating to high school bathrooms and the design phase is in progress.

Nominating Committee
Marshall Orson, Roxanne Brown, and Barbara Hahn presented the slate of 2008-09 ELPC officers:

Co-President :
Faye Andresen – Faye, a DHHS School Council member, is returning as ELPC Co-President. Her
daughter will be a Druid Hills HS senior and she has a son in college.

Co-President:
Lori Cora - Lori is a Henderson PTSA Co-President and will be Treasurer next year. She has a daughter
at Henderson MS and 3 children at Evansdale Elementary.

Vice President:
Nancy Moore – Nancy is presently serving as Fernbank PTA Co-President and has two children at
Fernbank Elementary.

Recording Secretary:
Greg Studdard – Greg, a Shamrock School Council member, has three daughters at Shamrock and his son
is a recent DHHS graduate.

Corresponding Secretary:
Donna Toulme – Donna, returning as ELPC Corresponding Secy., has a son at Shamrock, a daughter at
DHHS, and two children in college.

Community Relations/Legislative Liaison:
Sally Harrell – Sally, a former State Representative, has two children at Evansdale Elementary.

The motion was made to accept the slate as presented and seconded. With no further discussion, the motion passed.

Closing Remarks

Faye thanked all for the continuing success of ELPC this year. She noted outgoing officers Terracer Earnest, Polly Wills, and Karen Zeliff individually and thanked them for their ELPC contribution and participation.

Respectfully submitted,
Polly Wills, Recording Secretary