MBX Advisory Board requests MBUSD to resume payment of extra duty stipends

By Jessie Rosenfeld
Staff Writer

During the March 5 Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting, the board discussed the MBX’s request to have MBUSD reclaim responsibilities for in-season extra duty and coach salaries for the 2014-15 school year.

Currently, MBX, which is primarily funded by booster clubs, reimburses MBUSD for coaches stipends, adding up to $400,000 in the last two years. MBX is asking MBUSD to pay for coaches’ stipends without reimbursement from MBX.

“I think that the coaches should be paid by the school district without reimbursement because it is a large burden economically for parents,” MBX Advisory Board Chairman Ed McKeegan said. “It also leads to a possible feeling of entitlement by parents.”

The money used to fund sports programs is raised by school-connected organizations that raise money through optional donations from parents and different methods of fundraising.

“Now that the finances in the state and schools have gotten better, I think that it is up to the school district to consider taking this cost back,” McKeegan said.

According to MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews, it has been a difficult six years for public school finances, and parent donations help MBUSD avoid possible budget cuts.

“We have had great success in raising the funds; I know fundraising has always been hard work,” Matthews said.

Prior to two years ago, MBX was the Manhattan Beach Athletic Foundation. Similar to now, MBAF would ask parents to pay a suggested athletic donation, but the donations did not cover all Costa sports’ expenses. Costs were then deferred to each team’s booster clubs.

“When booster clubs took over funding for coaches’ stipends and busses, I did not think it was a good idea,” Costa track and field booster club president Cindy McMahon said at the board meeting.

The MBX Advisory Board is also requesting MBUSD to pay for extra duty stipends to give boosters the opportunity to ask for smaller donations from parents.

“Parents may be willing to give more money to sports teams’ other needs because they will not have to worry about giving them a donation for each coach’s salary,” soccer player Caroline Keever said.

In order for this request to go into effect, MBUSD will have to dedicate $220,000 to extra duty stipends in the 2014-15 budget.

“We always listen very closely to the concerns of booster clubs and MBX,” Matthews said. “I think there are a lot of good reasons for this change.”