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Letter
to the President of Board of School Directors
Ms. Kimberly
C. Oxholm, President
Board of School Directors
Lower Merion School District
Re: Allocation of school gyms
Dear President
Oxholm:
On behalf
of the Main Line Girls Basketball Association, I am writing
to request that a written policy be developed regarding the
allocation of school district gyms to interested outside parties.
Our league has experienced scheduling conflicts this year
and we were unhappy with the resolution of the issues. Our
main concern is that future conflicts be avoided. We believe
this can be accomplished with a written policy which considers
input from the various constituencies that have an interest
in using the gyms.
Before
I continue, you and the Board might appreciate some background
about the MLGBA. Our league has grown steadily since its inception
in January of 1994. That year Rich Lawson and I, both fathers
of Merion Elementary School girls, recognized the lack of
opportunity for our daughters to play basketball. Together,
we organized that inaugural season. Seventy five girls in
grades 2 to 6 enrolled.
This year
over 630 girls, on 62 teams, are participating in the MLGBA,
representing a dozen public and private schools in grades
2 through 8. Our reputation is for teaching girls the basics
of basketball while they have fun and improve their skills.
There are no try-outs, and each girl is guaranteed equal playing
time. Teams have one practice and one game weekly throughout
our season which runs from the beginning of January through
the end of March. The league is a wholly volunteer effort
with no salaries; the only compensation the commissioners
and coaches receive is the satisfaction of a great basketball
league for their daughters!
We use
Lower Merion public school and township gymnasiums. Because
of the large number of teams, when we can we also rent gyms
at Bryn Mawr College, Rosemont School of the Holy Child, Rosemont
College, Haverford College, Haverford Friends School, and
Harcum College. In spite of significant expenses such as facility
rental and insurance, we have always maintained a very reasonable
enrollment fee, just enough to cover each year's costs ($60.00
this season). It is our goal that the MLGBA continue to be
affordable. The MLGBA is non-profit and is listed with the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Nonprofit Corporation (#2790567).
The MLGBA is listed by the Lower Merion Township Department
of Recreation as a provider of service.
We understand
that the demand for the public school gyms is very high and
that numerous groups are competing for the opportunity to
use them for a variety activities. We would like to see a
written policy which would fairly address how decisions for
gym allocation are made and by whom, and we would like to
see such a policy followed consistently. I and many of the
other volunteer coaches and commissioners would be happy to
participate in meetings with Board members, administrative
staff, and/or representatives of other groups to help develop
such a policy.
One example
of a way to consider alleviating the situation somewhat is
to reduce the use of gyms by organizations which serve fewer
township residents. Also, men who enjoy the gyms for their
personal use could be scheduled for later in the evenings
which would better accommodate the younger school children.
In addition, groups which do not require baskets for their
activities could use other school facilities such as cafeterias
etc. instead. We also believe that some of the gyms may not
be utilized to their fullest possible extent.
I should
stress that we feel strongly about this issue, and we would
like to communicate soon to the MLGBA's 1,260 parents that
the Board is considering this issue and that a fair written
policy is being developed.
On behalf
of the Main Line Girls Basketball Association, I want thank
you and the other members of the Board for your help with
this troublesome issue.
Sincerely,
William J. McLaughlin
MLGBA Commissioner
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