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Twelve Maine school districts have been selected to develop and exercise the policies and strategies reflecting the University of Maine’s Sports Done Right recommendations.
The federally funded University of Maine initiative began in October 2003 with the creation and publication of Sports Done Right: A Call to Action on Behalf of Maine’s Student Athlete’s. This report makes recommendations for providing a successful learning environment for student-athletes. Robert Cobb, Dean of the College of Education and Human Development, co-directed the initiative.
“We are delighted to see that the Sports Done Right report represents what these schools and communities consider to be a good direction,” he said.
Each of the 12 pilot sites were selected from 25 applicants, based on geographic distribution, community and school size, expressed commitment and need, and potential for broad community involvement in the initiative. The 12 sites are: Augusta School Department, Brewer School Department, Lewiston/Auburn School Departments, Portland Public Schools, Winthrop Public Schools, SAD 5, SAD 29, SAD 32 , SAD 35, SAD 51, SAD 71, and School Union 29.
Cobb said that all the schools are involved for the right reasons.
“We know that responding schools thoroughly considered the implications of taking on more work, and we applaud their proactive commitment to building better athletic experiences,” he said. “We are also aware of the tremendous pressures schools are under to implement state and federal mandates and assess student progress.”
Dan Bowers, athletic director of Cony High school, said he wanted to get involved in the initiative to set a standard for Augusta.
“I saw it as an opportunity to get the parents, coaches, players and community members of Augusta all on the same page. We have a lot of groups; the school’s recreation department, the YMCA, volunteer organizations that take care of little league. This is a chance to bring them all to the table and open the line of communication,” Bower said.
He said incorporating the Maine state learning results into the sports program will make it more credible and ultimately protect the program from budget cuts down the road.
“The sports program is only one percent of the budget, yet is one of the most productive as far as getting kids involved and keeping their grades up,” Bower said.
One recommendation in the report which Bower said he doubts will happen in Augusta, is the creation of a position for an athletic director at the middle school level. Bower said this is an issue of cost.
School-community leadership teams from each pilot site will attend a training session scheduled for March 22 at the University of Maine to define healthy interscholastic sports and discuss how to engage their community in the effort.
Eventually, the standards developed by Sports Done Right will go before local school boards for approval.
Bangor Daily News