NKSB baffled on providing financial support to OM teams

New Kent Odyssey of the Mind teams have met success over many years, including one team attending the world championships at Michigan State University this past May. Now, questions on future funding and support from the county’s school board are causing concern among members.

Ross Miller, director of instructional technology and testing, presented a one-page letter to school board members about the program. Looming in the document were concerns of financial support and what should be provided to them by the school board.

According to the letter, the cost for each team in the regional tournament was $25, with teams advancing to the state tournament having an entry fee of $65. That dollar amount jumps substantially at the world level, costing anywhere from $5,000-$12,000 for one team.

Last year, the board agreed to pay to cover travel expenses for the team, as well as one chaperone and one sponsor for the trip, but concerns of not being able to fully fund expenses have become a major concern, as well as not being able to provide staff to cover the trip, due to it usually falling on the Memorial Day holiday. The trip requires a staff member of the school to attend as a representative of the school. Most of New Kent’s Odyssey of the Mind teams are coached by volunteers who are not employed in the school system.

School board members pondered questions and comments about the event, with a performance lasting an average of eight minutes.

“Is this type of instruction and trip worth the cost?” questioned District 2 member Dean Simmons.

“It is a once in a life-time experience,” replied Miller, speaking on the concept of how a group works for six months on a team-based, problem-solving task. “It’s just a lot of money and you have to decide how much you want to support them.”

Superintendent of schools Rick Richardson offered an extreme example of potential costs the board could incur.

“We have nine teams and in an extreme case, what if all nine make it to nationals?” asked Richardson, pointing to a figure that could easily eclipse $50,000.

Miller reemphasized to school board members looming problems with any action taken or decisions made in the future.

“If you don’t support them when they go to the world [competition], you might as well tell them not to do a fundraiser,” he commented, referencing fundraisers held to support last year’s trip. “You also need a chaperone and pay for travel and a school sponsor.

“If you told them that they wouldn’t be going to the worlds, we would see a significant drop-off [in participation],” Miller added.

Last year, fundraising efforts resulted in $12,000 for last year’s Odyssey of the Mind team to attend the world competition. However, that money also supported parents attending the trip. The school’s contribution was $2,500 for the coach and sponsor. School board members also voiced concern over asking local businesses for money to support the venture.

“Last year, parents went and another question you are going to have to ask is if you’re going to limit fundraising ability to a certain number of people you want to go,” added Miller. “That’s an extreme amount of money.”

School board members began weighing in with opinions on the situation, as well as comments and questions on how to handle addressing the issue.

“What about supporting them through the state and then, maybe a percent at the national level?” said District 1 representative Brett Marshall.

“It’s not the school’s responsibility to pay for parents,” chimed in Hardinge. “Coaches should know we’re going to give some support, but they need to understand we’re looking at funding from our end.”

Board members turned to Miller for his recommendation.

“I don’t know how you set a figure,” said Miller, who seemed perplexed by the situation.

Making matters more complicated was a perspective Marshall had as a parent.

“If we cut it off after the state, then we start to set a precedent,” the District 1 representative said. “If sports can go to nationals and we support that but others can’t, it sends a message that the school board supports some that go out of state, but not others.”

Marshall’s comment focused on the New Kent Beta Club that had a national trip a few years ago and received support from the school board.

“It’s something the board is going to have to think about long and hard,” added Miller.

School board members issued a directive to Miller to work with finance director Ralph Westbay in determining a reasonable dollar amount to finance the teams at a national level. While it is not scheduled to affect teams this school year, escalating costs could impact the program’s future despite recent success.