TITLE:        Girls' hockey doesn't score with board gender equity, 
              budgeting clash in desire for sport
DATE:         February 2nd, 1994
DESCRIPTORS:  FINANCE HOCKEY WOMAN

Copyright (c) 1994, St. Paul Pioneer Press

Mounds  View  School District administrators have recommended adding girls'
ice  hockey  next  winter  at Irondale and Mounds View high schools, a move
that  would  equalize  the  number of boys' and girls' sports but could put
next year's budget further out of balance.

   The  District  621 School Board last week considered the recommendation,
but  wound  up laying it over for more discussion after a motion to adopt a
girls' hockey program failed 4 to 3.

   Board  members  are  ``very  interested''  in  gender  equity in sports,
Chairman  Harold  Kurtz  said.  However,  he  added,  ``there is a range of
opinion on the board as to how we should proceed.''
   Administrators  did  not  ask  for  a  vote  last week, Deputy Assistant
Superintendent  Jan  Witthuhn  noted.  The recommendation was presented for
study as the board develops a 1994-95 budget, she said.

   Kurtz  said the district already is looking at about $750,000 in cuts to
balance next year's budget, mostly because of changes in state funding. But
he  added:  ``We  can't use the budget as a reason for turning our backs on
equity.''

   Several board members said last week they would approve girls' hockey if
the overall cost of sports programs did not increase for 1994-95. A move to
that effect also failed 4 to 3.

   District  621  now  has 12 boys' sports and 11 girls' sports at Irondale
and  Mounds View high schools, with a total 1993-94 budget of $308,769. The
imbalance  in  sports offerings does not automatically put the district out
of  compliance  with  gender  equity guidelines, but it could contribute to
that, district officials said.

   Administrators  have proposed establishing a combined girls' hockey team
next year that would operate on a club basis for up to 50 participants from
the  two  high schools. In 1995-96, there would be a team at each school if
enough girls signed up.

   The  first-year  cost  was  estimated  at  just  over $32,000, including
equipment,  coaching,  ice  time,  transportation  and officials' fees. Two
teams the second year would cost a projected $82,712.

   Surveys  at  both  schools have revealed high interest in girls' hockey,
Irondale athletic director Jim Colletti said.

   Among  Irondale  ninth  through  eleventh graders surveyed last fall, he
said,  49  expressed  a  strong interest in hockey and 128 expressed a mild
interest.  Hockey  ranked  higher  than  ringette, synchronized swimming or
speedskating.

   Another interest survey last spring, under the auspices of the Minnesota
State  High  School  League,  showed  hockey  near  the top, Colletti said.
Interest  appears  even  higher in the Mounds View High attendance area, he
added.

   But  Kurtz  said board members are being lobbied by residents interested
in several girls' sports, including hockey, dance line and speedskating.
   Other considerations for district officials include which new sports the
State  High  School  League is likely to sanction and how a new sport would
affect the availability of ice time.

   District 621 does not have its own ice arena, unlike some districts that
have added girls' hockey programs, Colletti said.

   ``Any  time  you  double  the  ice  time  you need, that will be a major
problem,'' he said.

   District  621  residents  can  voice opinions on girls' hockey and other
budget  matters and district goals at 7 p.m. public forums Feb. 14 at Snail
Lake School and Feb. 24 at Bel Air School.