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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]quick question - how would the a later MS time impact those 8th graders that may make a high school JV sports team?

I'm in favor of a later time for my middle schooler but he is also very active after school in activities (at school) and outside school.  He loves it and he NEEDS all the physical activity he can get.  
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If middle school got out later, they would not be able to participate in most high school sports. Practices would start before middle school ends. And little to no middle school sports would be an option. [/quote]
You do not know this to be true. We don’t know what other changes would come out of shifting bell times. [/quote]

+1 If bell times change, everything else will adjust to that! Extracurricular schedules are beholden to school schedules, not the other way around. [/quote]

There is limited field/gym/pool space. It is logistically to have middle school sports if they get out after high schools. Period.[/quote]

I'm just not understanding this argument.  Other than 8th graders playing on the hs teams and any swimming that might occur, do all middle school sports have to use the high school facilities?  TJ and Kenmore, at least, have tennis courts and fields available on-site. If other schools use county parks for the courts, that doesn't interfere with high school. And maybe some sports could just meet before school instead of after, if they're that critical.[/quote]

Same with Williamsburg… Soccer, basketball, wrestling, track, ultimate, cheerleading, etc. all done at the school. I think swimming/dive is the one really impacted.[/quote]

Middle school sports are from roughly 3-4pm. After that many middle school gyms and fields are used by high school and club teams. High schools do not have enough space for their own teams. Parks and Rec need the revenue from club teams to make budget. If middle school gets out around 4pm, there are not fields/gyms/pools for them to use. [/quote]

I’m not disputing what you’re saying, but could you give a specific example of Arlington middle school fields used for high school? For various reasons we are at certain middle school field several times a week and I don’t see any high school sports going on. Lots of travel sports teams practicing. [/quote]

From my experience, high school teams use middle school gyms - 6 high school basketball teams plus cheer and dance don’t fit in the high school gym space. Then club and rec teams use the middle school gyms. Club/travel teams use the fields and pools. I do not know the high school field sport practice schedule. As you say, lots of travel teams use the fields who pay a lot of money for the fields. DPR can’t afford to kick them out. Same for the fees the club swim teams pay for the pools. That income is needed for the maintainer budgets. Middle school sports are free.

Whether middle school sports are needed/valuable is a different question. But I do not believe the space is available for them to operate after 4pm. [/quote]

SIX basketball teams?  What high school has six basketball teams?
I don't know about WL; but both YHS and WHS have two gyms.  Cheer and dance could use alternative spaces - I've seen YHS' winterguard practice in YHS' atrium when the gymnasiums are not available.  If 20 kids can spin and toss flags and rifles and dance there, surely cheer or dance can manage some practice there or other spaces?

As for non-APS teams being essential for the income, that's the County's problem.  APS facilities have shared-use agreements; but priority should be given to school groups.  [/quote]

See above for the 6 teams. All APS comprehensive high schools have 6 teams plus wrestling, dance and multiple levels of cheer. They usually have 3 practice slots per gym per day so some teams need somewhere else to practice. And no, you can’t tell the cheer and dance athletes that while they are considered athletes and perform and compete on courts that they need to practice in the cafeteria.

And no, the budget is not just the county’s problem. APS can’t afford to maintain the fields/gyms/pools. The fees the county receives through club sports, parks and rec classes etc are what pay for the maintenance so that the student-athletes can use them. [/quote]

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