Select sports at GWHS in limbo

GREENVILLE — Schools districts nationwide recently have seen drastic cuts in their budgets, affecting nearly every department.
In the athletic sector, some schools have even considered nixing certain sports in order to save money.
Now, the Greenville Public School District is considering taking the same measures after Superintendent Dr. Harvey Franklin Sr. recommended to the board of trustees Tuesday to suspend non-revenue producing sports.
“Basketball, football and track are not included,” Franklin explained.
Franklin would not elaborate on which sports weren’t in limbo, but said sports that weren’t bringing in a sustainable amount of income would have to be reviewed.
Others sports offered by Greenville-Weston High include: fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball, golf, baseball, powerlifting, tennis, soccer and cross country.
His recommendation does not include junior high sports, he said.
“We can”t continue to spend money on programs that are not self-supported,” said Franklin. “We”ll have to make a decision in the next few weeks.”
To avoid non-revenue producing sports from being eliminated or suspended, the district will need additional funds, Franklin said.
“We”re trying to see if we can get more sponsors to support our children’s programs,” he stated. “That’s one of the keys.”
GWHS is also currently searching for a head high school boy’s basketball coach after Ernie Watson took the head job at Hattiesburg High. Plus, the district is without an athletic director, which Watson also served as.
Franklin said the search for both positions is ongoing.