Burnet, Llano schools say no soccer for 2014
BURNET — Officials at Burnet and Llano high schools have decided not to add soccer to schools’ athletic programs for the 2014 season.
Burnet Consolidated Independent School District is facing a projected deficit of about $50,000 and doesn’t have the extra money, athletic director Kurt Jones said.
“We’ve had some interest here, and people want to start that up,” he said, “but it won’t be for a few years at least.”
Both Jones and BCISD Superintendent Keith McBurnett met with people interested in a soccer program and had phone calls from others. But it wasn’t too many, the athletic director said.
“We love the idea of providing more kids with more opportunities around here,” Jones said. “The financial situation we’re in just handcuffs us on what we can consider right now.”
Adding a new sport means a startup cost of at least $40,000, he said, but that amount goes up when thinking about coaches’ salaries, travel costs, meal money, pay for officials, uniforms and equipment.
Those who talked to the Burnet officials have understood the reasons why, Jones said.
Llano athletic director Craig Slaughter said no one talked to him or Superintendent Dennis Hill about soccer.
“I’ve not heard one person say anything about it,” he said.
State funding will play a factor in the Yellowjackets adding the sport in the future, Slaughter said.
If Llano doesn’t get more money from the state legislature, the chances are slim the sport will be added for the 2015 season.
The University Interscholastic League required member school districts to submit lists Jan. 15 stating which sports they would field next year.
jfierro@thepicayune.com