Some $3 million once reserved to pay salaries of athletic directors at Hawai'i public high schools now will be lumped in with schools' general funds, raising concerns that some of the positions might be cut.

The move means high schools will receive about $100 more per student in the 2009-2010 school year, under the state Department of Education's new school funding formula.

Board members say giving schools greater discretion over their budgets means greater flexibility and control over the number of support staff and teaching positions, as well as the inventory of textbooks and supplies. Schools also will be able to decide what kind of athletic administrative positions, if any, they want to have.

But the decision to include athletic director salaries in the funding formula has sparked concern by some who believe school athletic programs are under siege because of tough economic times.

The recent decision comes about a month after the state Board of Education saved the public school athletics program from a $1 million cut.

"Everyone understands the economics is driving this whole thing," said Leroy Simms, athletic director at Hilo High School. "Small schools are going to be the ones affected by all of this. You're going to have them saying they can't afford to hire an athletic director."

The state Board of Education made the decision to include athletic director salaries, along with several other budget categories, in the pot of about $900 million that gets distributed to schools through the DOE's funding formula.

"Like it or not, weighted student formula is law ... and we need to trust that school community councils will make the right decision for their school," said Breene Harimoto, budget chairman for the BOE.

COMMUNITY CONTROL

The weighted student formula was established under Act 51, which was intended to give communities more control over their schools.

"Just like librarians, counselors, teachers — they are all in the (formula). So what makes athletic directors any different?" he asked.

Board of Education member Lei Ahu Isa said she's generally concerned that the system's funding method has created an environment that pits one school program against another, however.

For instance, she said principals and school community councils will have to decide whether they want to spend their money on an athletic director or some kind of other position.

"If money gets tighter and tighter — as they predict it will — principals will have to cut somewhere," Ahu Isa said.

Alvin Nagasako, principal of Kapolei High School, said it will be the small schools that end up having to make the tough decisions.

"If I had a choice, I'd have two athletic directors — one for girls, one for boys. That's how big our program is," Nagasako said. "When you have small schools, your budget will not allow you to carry a full staff. You have to develop your priority list."

For instance, Kapolei High School, with its 2,258 students, could receive about $10.6 million to cover all of its teaching positions and other support needs. But a small school such as Kohala High School, with its 273 students, could receive about $2.2 million as its budget.

PRIORITY LISTS

"Everyone will probably continue to have an athletic director. There are issues and complexities involved in what they do," said Robert Campbell, head of program support and development for the state Department of Education.

But years down the line, a small school may decide that it doesn't necessarily need an athletic director 40 hours a week, he said.

"The question that eventually schools will answer is, 'Is it a full-time job, no matter how big a school's athletic program is?' " Campbell said.

Campbell, however, said it is highly unlikely that high schools will decide not to hire an athletic director with their lump-sum money.

He pointed to the fact that teacher salaries, administrative staff salaries, even the salaries of the principal and vice principals are also included in the weighted student formula.

"If funding to buy staff to do those mandatory functions is already included in the weighted student formula, is there something unique or distinct about athletic directors that should prevent them from also being included?" he asked.

Catherine Payne, principal of Farrington High School, said that athletic directors have a very specific job and it would be difficult not to hire one.

"There are certain things that just have to happen in a school. I can't imagine that you can administer an athletics program without an athletics director," Payne said.

Specifically, Payne said athletic directors must supervise coaches, ensure compliance with the Title IX gender equity law, deal with off-campus transportation, and athletic equipment and facilities.

"If you choose to cut an athletic director, someone still has to handle those functions," Payne said.