Comments on: UPDATED: Dewey leaves Chaps for St. Andrews

By: budget

budget — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:25:20 +0000

and what is the tech theatre budget……seem to remember some pricey camera equipment purchased with bond funds……cameras to film football.

By: Extracurriculars are important

Extracurriculars are important — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:09:39 +0000

I think “The whole picture” got it partially right. As a parent, I want my kids (all of whom are Chaps) to grow up to be well-rounded individuals. To me, that includes participating in sports and other extracurricular activities, in addition to getting an exceptional public school education. I expect WHS and EISD middle schools to offer a full set of extracurricular opportunities, whether or not my kids choose to participate.

That said, WHS does not need a covered practice facility for football or any other “outdoor” sport, a new administration building, another elementary school, or any other fripperies. WHS didn’t need the state-of-the-art bells and whistles in the FAF either. And … there are legitimate reasons to fault many of the decisions made by EISD’s board and superintendent.

Love her or hate her, Nola Wellman won’t be with us forever. Nola has burned through an enormous amount of good will in the Eanes community in the past few years. Nola’s reputation for honesty is in hot dispute, and Nola’s questionable behavior has created some implacable foes who won’t sit quietly on the sidelines. Nola relies on the board’s reflexive and dogmatic support, but her majority is dwindling. The board’s refusal to exercise meaningful oversight has given Nola more than enough rope to hang herself, and sooner or later she will.

Nola and the board bear a lot of responsiblity for creating the poisoned and distrustful atmosphere in the EISD community. Frustration over Nola’s manipulations continues to mount, and the divisions in the Eanes community deepen. Such is the environment fostered by the illustrious Dr. Wellman and her pets on the school board. Nola plays all of us very well.

Anyway, I’ll be at there cheering for the Chaps to corral the Cavaliers. See you at the game. I’ll also be voting in November and May.

By: math wizard

math wizard — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:24:09 +0000

I, in turn, have to agree with “what the whole picture said”…

Just EXACTLY what is the Band budget? they use the same stadium, they rent the same buses they have as many kids as football; but they don’t have ANY ticket revenue to offset the costs.

I’ll be a nickel that of the extra curricular that involve more than 75 kids, football has the least negative financial impact on the school.

What say you, those who hate football? Which costs more (net, net)? band or football?

By: what 'the whole picture' said

what 'the whole picture' said — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:17:50 +0000

Gotta agree with “the whole picture”. We get it picayune posters…many of you don’t like football. Yes it costs more money to run a football program that it does cross country. However, there are roughly 300 boys involved in WHS football, compared to 20 in cross country. (Please understand that I’m not picking on cross country. I’m just using it b/c a previous poster made a comparison. I have the ultimate respect for those kids that get up before the sun and run their guts out). The jumbotron was not paid for by football budget money, but the money generated by sponsors does not all go to the football program. The field turfed practice fields and game field (not astroturf) save the district countless amounts of money each year (maintenance, water, ect.). Lastly, football coaches are paid around $3000 to coach football. Their salary for teaching. And before we start the whole “coaches don’t teach ‘real classes’ ” argument, do some looking. Yes there are some coaches that don’t have curricular classes, but the vast majority teach a full classload.
To close this out, football costs more money than any other sport to operate. Has anyone ever taken a look at the band budget? I don’t hear anyone complaining about it.

By: The whole picture.....

The whole picture..... — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:54:11 +0000

I also don’t think that up to 10,000 people are “forced” to come to the football games on Friday nights….. come on people, this is a popular event. It gives a venue for the band, the Hyline, the Cheerleaders, and is a huge community “bonding” experience. I am sorry that some of you don’t enjoy this, but it is obvious to me that a lot of people do. Go find something of real substance to do for the community, rather than continue with your negativity.

By: another perspective

another perspective — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:12:54 +0000

Athletic participation fees are the same for a cross country runner as they are for a football player. Which costs more to equip? How much does it cost to pay all the football coaches and put on a football game? Are other sports subsidizing football to some extent?
The jumbotron was not paid for by the football program so its revenues should go back to the school.
The Chap Club is supported by ALL athletes and their families, not just football.

By: Land of Oz

Land of Oz — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 22:58:11 +0000

Math wiz you are not. Who do you think purchased the jumbotron, astroturf, football stadium, referees, coaches, coaches clothing (sometimes 2-3 pairs of high end shoes a year), security for games and stadium, weight rooms, hotel rooms, meals, charter buses, trophies, food for the press box, state of the art audio visual equipment (rivaling some professional businesses)……. 500k per year does not cover all these costs. There’s a reason our administrators aren’t jumping at this opportunity to clear the air don’t your think?

By: math wizard

math wizard — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:05:45 +0000

Just a few minutes spent on the numbers show that Westlake football would generate at least $500,000 yearly. This does NOT include Jumbotron revenue, just ticket sales, concessions and athletic participation fees.

The Chap Club raises money for uniforms, etc; so they don’t have those costs.

$500,000 will rent a lot of buses.

I don’t know how much it costs to run a high school football program, but it seems unlikely that Westlake could actually be losing money on football.

By: won't find it

won't find it — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:41:15 +0000

That math doesn’t exist, because over the course of the season, football makes alot more money than it spends. Common sense.

By: go ask Nola

go ask Nola — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:38:50 +0000

Only when Nola Wellman releases all the documents that reveal all the income and expenditures of all of the athletic programs will we all be able to ‘do the math’. the information would indeed be enlightening for those having opinions on both sides of this issue. Don’t forget the legal expenses associated with her chronic attempts to hide the documents via filings with the Office of the Attorney General hoping to find an exception that allows her to exempt this information from public review.

All together now:

Show us all the money Nola!