Ninth-Grade Sports Get the Ax in Frederick County Schools

Move saves about $50,000

Plans are in the works to eliminate sports for ninth-graders at public high schools in Frederick County, Md.

The Frederick Gazette reported superintendent Theresa Alban proposed the idea in her budget for next year. The move would save $49,158.

Freshman football and basketball would be eliminated for boys, and freshman basketball for girls.

The Gazette reported some schools didn't have enough interested students to fill the girl's basketball teams.

School officials decided to eliminate these sports rather than increase activity fees that are now $90 per student.

Walkersville High School varsity basketball coach, Ryan Burkey, told the Gazette that  the ninth-grade boys basketball team is an important resource for the varsity team. The cuts would keep the team from developing the number of players it needs, Burkey said.

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