The Woodlands High School

Highlander Soccer

STEERING TEAM REPORT OUT - SCHOLARSHIPS

Steering Team Members:

David Bray – Senior and Sophomore Parent

Trish Miller – Senior and Freshman Parent

Doug Schlegel – Sophomore Parent

Vik Upadhyaya – Sophomore Parent

Joanna Zernell – Junior Parent

Background:

In November of last year, we outlined a concern regarding the current scholarship program and the ability of the booster club to continue to fund the program given projected increases in the coming years coupled with the girl’s program no longer supporting the Pavilion. At that time, we requested your support in putting together a steering team to make an assessment of our capabilities and report back to you with a recommendation in 2009

We also stated in that meeting that we have an obligation to the boys that are currently in the program and regardless of our direction we would have to address this commitment. During this meeting you heard Coach Kleinschmidt express his feelings on the scholarship program being an important component of the boys’ overall experience.

It is important to note that historically the scholarship program provided a maximum benefit of $1000 per player. It was only in recent years that the booster club voted to increase this benefit to $1500 per player.

As you consider the following suggestions, you may take into account that our by-laws essentially state three purposes:

• To promote and support TWHS boys soccer program
• Assist as needed in any TWHS soccer function.
• To develop and promote good fellowship, encourage sportsmanship and support etc… for the benefit of the soccer players.

These could be interpreted as purposely vague and deliberately broad, which results in a tremendous amount of flexibility for members to structure the booster club based on the needs and capabilities of the organization. Historically, the booster club has been well rounded with benefits to the players not just coming after they graduate, but throughout the program as well.

Why we have a problem today:

There are three primary reasons why there should be a change in the program going forward. Those issues are:

1. Loss of Pavilion revenue
2. Current Scholarship Levels of $1500 per player
3. Larger Teams

In looking ahead, these issues could result in the scholarship program eroding the cash position of the club to an unfavorable position and affecting its ability to operate smoothly and fund activities other than scholarships in the future. Currently there is excess cash within the system and in the view of the steering team some of this excess cash can be used to satisfy scholarship requirements. However, unless highly ratable, excess cash is more appropriately used on one time purchases such as the new team bench or improving the locker room and not recurring expenses that exceed revenue.

The Results:

To summarize the results, the steering team is recommending a model that accomplishes the following:

1. Maintains a scholarship program.
2. Recognizes our commitments today.
3. Allows the booster club to continue funding other activities that enrich the experience for the players.
4. Operate with a balanced budget.

Maintains a scholarship program and recognizes our commitments:

It was determined that there is a high value placed on the scholarship program in general. However, the scholarship program needs to be changed in order to reflect our current and future situation. In short, the scholarship program will be scaled back down over the next three years to a $1000 maximum payout per player. The steering team recommends this tiered structure because it recognizes prior commitments to the sophomores, juniors, and seniors that have participated under the older structure. This also takes into account the efforts by those parents who have worked to build the surplus the program enjoys today. The details are attached, but it results in the senior class being paid out with this year’s program at a maximum of $1500 per player. The junior class will be paid out at a $1375 per player maximum, but the total amount will not exceed $20,000 for the year. The sophomore class will be paid out at a $1250 per player maximum and the total will not exceed $18,000 for the year. The freshman class will be paid out at a $1000 per player maximum with the total amount not to exceed $15,000 per year. Please take the time to read the details in the attached program. As you will see, the program allows for change should the officers and members deem necessary. It also provides a formula for administering the cap should that be necessary.

Allows for other funding:

It is expected that over the next three years the club will use approximately $7,500 of its excess cash to tier the scholarship program down to a $15,000 cap and a balanced budget. By installing caps each year it enables the booster club to continue to operate and provide additional benefits to the players overall.

Changes to Scholarship Qualification:

The points awarded for the scholarship program will also change to better accommodate all families. There is still a heavy emphasis on volunteering, by both parent and player, but overall the qualifying activities accommodate any work schedule or family commitments.

Vote to Approve:

We will ask for your vote in support of these changes at out March 9 th meeting.