The second half of Saturday’s workshop for the Franklin County Board of Education focused on athletics across the district, with board members and athletic leaders discussing budgets, facilities needs, and long-term priorities.
Board member Erik Cole opened the conversation by reflecting on the work of an athletics committee he has organized in recent months. The committee includes athletic directors and community members and was formed to help identify program needs, budget realities, and challenges across Franklin County. Cole said the process has been eye-opening, particularly the scale of money moving in and out of athletic programs and the number of moving parts required to operate them.
The discussion came at a critical time, as athletic leaders prepare requests ahead of the district’s next budget cycle. One theme that surfaced repeatedly was the district’s reliance on local businesses to “fill in the gaps” through donations and sponsorships for routine expenses, rather than reserving those community campaigns for larger, special projects.
Major facility needs: lights, turf, and the future of the Boulevard field
Over nearly two hours, county athletic director Bob Robertson and athletic directors from individual schools presented project ideas and needs.
Robertson highlighted the need to replace aging field lights across the district with LED systems. He noted that the older bulbs cost more to run, require more frequent repairs, and are becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain due to limited parts availability. He also pointed to the potential long-term value of LEDs, noting that LED systems installed in the district have reportedly gone several years without repair costs.
Athletic directors also noted that the TSSAA has lighting standards tied to player safety. They said visibility concerns have prompted officials to test field lighting levels in recent years, with some fields only narrowly meeting requirements.
A phased approach was discussed for handling the district-wide lighting project, including saving and reusing parts and bulbs where possible to control costs until all sites can be upgraded. Leaders described the strategy as a practical way to manage expenses while still moving the district toward safer, more reliable lighting.
Another major topic was the long-term future of the district’s older football field on the Boulevard. Robertson questioned how long the district should continue maintaining the property, citing annual costs that can reach tens of thousands of dollars for a facility that hosts only a limited number of event dates. He suggested that selling the property could allow funds currently spent on upkeep to be redirected toward newer facilities and could support a more unified athletics pipeline by bringing youth, middle school, and high school programs into closer alignment.
Turf was also discussed as a potential solution for both cost control and expanded field use. District leaders noted that turf can reduce routine maintenance demands and increase scheduling flexibility, while also reducing time coaches spend on field upkeep.
Coaches handling maintenance, no district groundskeeper
A significant point raised during the workshop was that coaches across the district are largely responsible for field upkeep, including cutting, painting, and other routine maintenance. There is currently no dedicated groundskeeper or facilities maintenance manager assigned to athletics, meaning coaches spend hours each week on conditions rather than instruction.
Several leaders noted that turf could reduce the maintenance burden and help shift more time back toward coaching and student development.
Middle school concerns and program alignment
The workshop also included specific examples of facility limitations. Huntland was cited as practicing on a short, roughly 35-yard space described as more of a playground area than a true practice field, with dirt and rocks creating safety concerns. Leaders said a turfed field could provide a safer and more consistent practice environment.
Middle school scheduling was also discussed. Leaders said middle school programs are increasingly moving away from playing at the Boulevard site. Franklin County High School was referenced as a location that can better serve as a central venue, with North Middle already committing to play home games there. The concept of bringing pee wee programs into the same facilities was also discussed as a way to strengthen continuity and community engagement.
District leaders noted that the Boulevard site includes issues such as a broken scoreboard and ongoing costs—reported at more than $50,000—despite declining usage.
Operating costs and budget pressure
Beyond facilities, the conversation also focused on operating expenses that create ongoing fundraising pressure.
Travel costs were described as a major budget driver. Athletic directors discussed routine road-game costs, with middle school programs facing travel expenses per trip and the high school facing travel costs that add up significantly across all sports.
Kelly Kennedy shared figures from the previous year, stating that Franklin County sports spending was roughly $218,000 while generating about $195,000. She also noted the booster club brought in about $167,000. At the same time, Kennedy said total athletics expenses at the high school level exceeded $400,000, with much of the difference being covered through community support. Football and basketball were discussed as the primary sports that consistently generate revenue through ticket sales.
Kennedy asked the district to consider assistance with certain predictable expenses—particularly travel—arguing that it would reduce the constant fundraising burden on local businesses and families. Food costs were also discussed, including the possibility of more affordable meal options through school cafeterias, though leaders noted there are still questions about what can be covered and how pricing would work.
Requests: “quick access” funds, stipends, and staffing support
Kennedy also requested a “quick access” account that would function similar to petty cash for time-sensitive or emergency expenses. The goal would be to reduce delays caused by reimbursement timelines and prevent athletics accounts from being drained unexpectedly. Other districts, including Coffee County, were referenced as having similar options.
Additional staffing and stipend needs were discussed, including expanding football coaching stipends from six to ten under new head coach Chuck Reed, along with smaller stipends for freshman and JV coaching support. Kennedy also raised the need for another paid wrestling coach due to rapid growth in the program and suggested building a middle school wrestling program to develop athletes earlier.
Middle school leaders also requested additional assistant coaching support for certain combined sports. They said the reduction from school-based assistants to a single combined assistant has created challenges due to roster size and player development needs.
Looking ahead: commissioners and a countywide brand push
By the end of the session, participants suggested that a similar workshop involving county commissioners could be valuable in aligning expectations. Leaders acknowledged that while athletics appears to be a growing district priority, budget realities set by commissioners may limit what is possible without a coordinated plan. The idea was framed as a way to build shared understanding and explore creative solutions.
The workshop concluded with discussion about building a consistent district-wide brand and marketing approach for athletics—one designed to engage fans, build excitement, and reflect the district’s renewed focus on success both on and off the field.
For more details on these stories and more, visit 931GO.com – stay informed and stay connected to ESPN Radio Winchester.
