This article is part of a series on proposed budget cuts.

In the midst of an economic recession and a green light for a new high school, Wayland’s athletic program is one of the many areas facing a severe reduction through the budget cuts proposed for fiscal year 2011. If the proposed budget passes as it currently stands, the athletic director position will be cut in half and three coaching positions will be eliminated: one assistant coach from both the wrestling team and the tennis teams, and and a winter track head coach.

Dean of students and football coach Scott Parseghian believes that the declined enrollment on the wrestling team is a basis for the elimination of an assistant coach. However, with winter track participation higher than ever, the loss of even one coach may pose numerous difficulties. To counteract the loss of a head coach, the boy’s and girl’s track teams will merge into one team.

“This is my fourth year running for Wayland High School, and it’s been the best experience ever,” said senior captain Katherine Rafuse in reaction to this proposed change. “I’d hate to see the team suffer in talent or passion because of these cuts.”

Another change that could be implemented next year is an increase in the athletic user fee. The fee is currently $225 to play a single season; the fee would increase $25 to $250. It was originally suggested that the fee be based on a “tiered system,” in which athletes participating in the more expensive sports would pay a higher fee.

In addition to the athletic fee, members of the swim team will have to pay for the use of the Wayland Town Pool throughout their winter season. Next year, swimmers would have to raise $16,000 to use the facilities, a substantial per-athlete increase from the $225 they currently pay.

The most drastic cuts being made is the reduction of athletic director Martha Jamieson’s position to part-time. Currently, the athletic director is in charge of managing events for 30 plus sports programs and overseeing 60 plus coaches and support staff. She also attends monthly Booster meetings, and conducts the numerous other, smaller tasks that come with the job of athletic director.

An athletic director is expected to work weekends, nights, and vacation periods whenever games are scheduled including. The average salary range of an athletic administrator in the Dual County League is approximately $80,000 with no experience and upwards of $115,000 for the most experienced. Jamieson believes that filling the athletic director position with a part-time employee would equate to hiring a first year teacher as a department head “right out of the gate.”

“An experienced qualified person brings intangibles to the table such as having a conceptual outlook,” said Jamieson. ” It requires the ability to make tough decisions that very often involve moral dilemmas, and proven ability to handle a large coaching staff of whom possess a wide variety of styles and personalities. An inexperienced person would not bode well for the coaching staff and in fact may have a direct impact on coaches’ accountability to the program, community and most important the student-athlete.”

This article is part of a series on proposed budget cuts:

• Budget cuts: the Latin program
• Budget cuts: the Athletics program
• Budget cuts: the Guidance department
• Budget cuts: the Science department
• Budget cuts: the English department