An easy scan of the few articles on this topic makes it clear Milton does not have to provide coach, asst coach, trainer, nothing....all these duties appear already covered and in place by the COOP. Afterall...it's been in existance for several years already hasn't it? And Doe Doe Birdman....you're clearly the one who started running with the mouth at the beginning of this stories blog by calling the parents of these students whining and arrogant. You rambled on to say they were droning?? So you are completely out of place to condescendingly chastise others...your the guilty party.

I think what Milton is doing is fine. It is how schools are going to compete for students in the future. Of course it is all tax payer dollars - the only question is where are those dollars going? Milton wants to make sure they get their share. If they don't go to Milton, they will go somewhere else. Milton makes the good business decision to draw more students by offering more options. This the the type of competition that will only increase with the current rules in place.

Regarding funding: Who are the coaching staff? Milton coach or someone within the co-op? The salaries of coaching staff are [need italics] tax payer funded...will Milton furnish a coach? An assistant coach? Use of any school district Athletic Trainer is also tax payer funded. If Milton does not now furnish coach, is that likely to change as the program continues? As the program grows?
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Every bus trip to away games, varsity or non-conference, IS tax payer funded. Right? { Very good of parents to drive to practices, no doubt! }
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Even as we must agree that Girls Hockey would draw, possibly, students and bring in revenue from state aid, these things, too, need to be considered for the long run. Just facts, no ranting.

“Non_grata”, not intended to read like a rant. Just facts. You [italics] assigned your own emotional values. And did you bother to read the positive acknowledgements in my remarks? Look again.
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My children, too, participated in varsity sports, debate, and Youth in Government. And band. And orchestra. I’m well aware of the many positives. Yes, the several of you posters ARE [italics] correct: these kids are often leaders in academics and co-curricular activities. Gee, I hope this last part didn't read like a rant.

“Dead...”, I’m just stating the facts, and they make sense, as most readers recognize.
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You and other posters who assign your imagined values on others’ lives is a sad addition to what ought to be calm, factual discourse. Leave out your name calling. Trying to distract readers by inserting, wrongly, someone else’s life condition is a petty, low ploy.

Stubby/Wasp - I'm not sure I understand your points? "this is what you get"? Comical/Hypocrisy? These comments doesn't make any sense. Seems fine to me that we spend $10.4k in fees to get $45k in state revenue. Seems like a good easy business decision. Especially when the vast majority of the time these student athletes are the cream of the crop good students...including academically.

Joy - the structure of the fees was a school officials decision, it looks like to me. So your criticising parents about it makes absolutely no sense at all and invalidates any of your points or arguements. You clearly don't know what you are talking about. It doesn't even appear that the parents made any request at all regarding the fees. I think it's great that we can debate these local issues on these blogs, but for goodness sakes lets do it with facts and logic...not blabbering non-sense.

Stubby - Well said, it seems that they don't see their own hypocrisy. You reap what you sow.

It is almost comical. The tea party faithful want schools to be be competitive and they want the "best" schools to get more funding. So schools start competing in the one arena where, for better or worse, people will choose open enrollment more often than not: Athletics. Why would this be a shock to anyone? The only way a district gets more revenue is to increase enrollment - those are the rules set by the state - by Gov. Walker and his budget. If the school can spend $20k in an athletic program to bring in $50k in overall revenue, that gives them $30k to spend on better books, classrooms, materials, etc... to improve the school. No business survives without a revenue stream. You want schools to behave like businesses and compete for customers? This is what you get!

my_3_kids - sounds like Milton School District is picking up all but $50 of the participation fee...so no, now you would not be self-funding the entire amount. So now you will get a break on paying for what you knew was an expensive sport going in. If you didn't want to have to pay so much, there are other winter sports like basketball that are not so costly.

One last item. I am whole heartedly againt the "athletic fee". This fee is not an athletic fee, it goes into the general fund. If it was indeed an athletic fee and went to the sports programs I wouldn't object.

Birdman and a few others exhibit the attitude that will keep Rock County and a lot of Wi. in the doldrums for a long time. The can't see beyond today. Cities and towns that are forward looking and provide amenities are exactly what modern business that pay well is looking for. Companies that are providing high tech well paying jobs tend to attract people with children. Those people want good schools with opportunities for their kids. Look at Minneapolis, St. Paul, the Madison suburbs etc. Sorry, but the old days are gone!

Birdman got Birdflu? Wow...what a sad stark reality of life existence you seem to be leading. You sound miserable, along with your other complainer buddies on here! I can only hope it's not contagious. I say let's work hard to support these students, who as athletes are usually the cream of the crop character wise, the highest acedemic performers, and turn out in higher percentages to be our most solid citizen's. This is a small price to pay to retain "Good" students or to potentially gain some. It's very conceivable for Dane county students or northern IL students to transfer to Rock County schools like Janesville and Milton to enjoy participation in this program. Good hockey programs are hard to find I think and become a magnet. Especially when they are in good academic schools like Milton and Janesville. Stop drinking the lemon juice and get with the program....these students are our future!

Sports (any sports) teach great life lessons. Some of those lessons can't be taught in the classroom.

Let them move to Madison schools. Enjoy the quality schools and property taxes.

I want a marbles team. If we don't get $5,000 per child, we are leaving!

wow, quite a rant. the article states that they are trying to attract more students. if you don't like sports or the life lessons they teach move on.

Punished?
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Come on folks, of ALL sports or other co-curricular activities, your daughters and sons are NOT being punished when they must pay a participation fee or pay for purchase costly equipment. Having to pay one's way is a simple fact of life.
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Among those Life Lessons which the collective “we” pay lip service to, children of all ages must be led to understand and respect the economics of their/your choices. That they cannot have everything they want. This “Life Lesson” should have been taught, and reviewed, often over the span of the young person’s involvement with the sport of other activity.
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Celebrate and rejoice in all the Good Things along the path, in this case girls hockey, and then gracefully Let Go with Thanks and no regrets.

You Hockey Parents placed your child into a program knowing fully well what the financial burden would be; you knew fully well what the time management burdens would be; and you knew that there has to be [ italics ] some conclusion down the road. Graduation. No varsity sport availabilty. Perhaps loss of parent’s job, so not affordable. A “career-ending injury.” Which ever reason, you.knew.there.had.to.be.an.end. to it all! Period.
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“My child has made many friends...” and “She has learned so many life lessons...” and similar remarks: All are valid. All are valued, hopeful outcomes of any activity in which we offer to our children. Whether a sport or other co-curricular activity. However . . .
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Perhaps the Most Valuable lessons connected to such things is helping the daughters (and sons) learn the sting of Endings. That final game. The final Orchestra concert. The final Curtain Call and cast party. We come to the end; we draw forever satisfaction for how we grew as a person, and it all has to end.

Regardless of who pays for which cost, and from what source the money comes, the notion of “threats” is unpalatable to many (most?) readers. Another form of bullying, in my opinion.
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Feel free to leave, folks. The desks & lockers will soon be filled by other students.
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You Whining hockey Parents drone on like all the other sports’ parents do or have done. Pick your cliché: My kid has played since age four (etc.) We parents have to do all the driving. Practice begins late and ends late. We have paid for all those lessons and rink time! Et al. If only you could hear (both audible and via print) and appreciate how arrogant and awful that comes across to the rest of us readers, friends, and neighbors! Enough of your martyr sniveling.

Or maybe if a school wants to add a sport to attract parents from a different district.....hey what do you know, that is what the article is about. Now it is a free country and if a person doesn't like it they can move, how cool is that!

Sports, sports, sports - Enough of it. Focus on education. If the parents want to move the kids to a different district because they don't offer a certain sport --> that is a decision they will have to make. There was a time when certain sports were being cut due to budget concerns. Another sport is not needed. The kids can play hockey on various club levels for all ages, but the parents will have to travel for this.

Woody.. I hope you are being sarcastic..GIRLS HOCKEY is all SELF FUNDED.. as for the "TAX PAYERS MONEY" I guess you may be right.. BUT>> IT IS ALL FROM THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYER/FAMILY
Watching my DAUGHTER play hockey since she was in first grade in a CLUB sport , (now a junior -11th grade- in high school) this has help her gain confidence, not only in school but in the real world..She is a A-B student taking college prep classes ( "AP Classes").. made new friends from the sport, and likes school ( as much as a Junior can like school knowing that she has only 2 full semesters left)..
She has played against girls on the "RC Fury" many times, and developed friendships with many girls ( not just from the Fury), from all over the state..
Sure the cost is high , you have to pay for ice time, and travel.. but it is all from the individual player and their family.. NON FROM THE TAX PAYER ( as in home owner, or business owner..)
Making Blanket statements like that is why people fear the worst on a subject that can show positive merits to the reader..

Shh...

"$10,400 investment for $45,000 return."
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Yeah, and it's all tax payer money.

Schools can do both...just because they are trying to become more attractive by offering more athletic opportunities does not mean they are not also working on improving academics.

Thanks, csense: I and The Gazette certainly stand corrected on the reference to body checks.

If the school district, any school district, wants to boost their enrollment, they should try boosting the quality of their academics instead. Perhaps that's too novel an idea for a public school system to grasp.

$10,400 investment for $45,000 return.
Sounds good as long as all the girls do
is play hockey.

Girls hockey is not a violent sport. Checking is not allowed in girls hockey.

Pay someone to let girls play a violent sport in order to boost school rolls.
Makes sense.
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