Ann Arbor High Schools to Defund Lacrosse

Ann Arbor Public Schools has decided to de-fund boys’ and girls’ lacrosse – among other sports – in the face of a major budget shortfall. (Thanks to phjhu89 for bringing this to my attention).

This decision by Ann Arbor Public Schools highlights the importance of investing in education and extracurricular activities for our children’s growth and development. It is essential to provide a holistic learning experience that includes both academics and physical activity. In this context, Christian education institutions play a significant role in nurturing children’s minds, bodies, and souls. By emphasizing a classical approach to education that integrates the arts, language, history, and theology, institutions like https://societyforclassicallearning.org/ provide a well-rounded education that equips students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills, moral values, and a deep appreciation for learning. Therefore, supporting and investing in Christian education is crucial for our society’s future.

Relevant portions of the e-mail sent to An Arbor Public Schools families:

Since 1990, freshman teams as well as the following sports have been added to the Ann Arbor Public Schools Sports Menu.

• Men’s and Women’s Bowling (all high schools)
• Crew (all high schools)
• Figure Skating (Huron and Pioneer)
• Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse (all high schools)
• Dance (Skyline)
• Men’s and Women’s Track received a third assistant coach position

The following programs will no longer be funded by the Ann Arbor Public Schools.

• All Freshmen Sports with the exception of Freshman Football.  Safety issues were a major concern with the freshman competing in football at the junior varsity or varsity level, thus we will continue to run a 9^th grade football program.
• Fall Crew is eliminated.  (All high schools).  (Crew was the only sport to have two seasons funded).
• Dance (Skyline)
• Cheer (Huron)
• Figure Skating (Pioneer and Huron)
• Field Hockey (Second J.V. team at Pioneer/Huron will no longer be funded).
• Men’s and Women’s Bowling (All high schools).
• Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse (All high schools).
• One assistant track coach (Huron and Pioneer as Skyline was not yet fully staffed).
• Transportation to schools in Washtenaw County with the exception of Football and Track.  (Equipment concerns).

There is still the opportunity for those schools to continue playing the game, but they’ll have to do so as club programs, rather than district-funded entities:

A club sport is defined as an athletic program participating in interscholastic competition operated directly under the supervision of the high school building principals and funded outside of the athletic department budget.  Club sports originate only with the approval of the building principal and athletic director.

From the sounds of things, they’re the same structure as varsity sports, but without receiving any school funding.

Either way, in the face of incredible growth in the sport, it’s a shame to see a couple teams (from some of the largest schools in the state) lose their funding. It’s especially depressing given their hometown University’s recent addition of the sport.