FROM STAFF REPORTS
BENZONIA -- Benzie Central is the latest shool to make cost-cutting moves in its athletic budget.
The athletic department will reduce its budget by $30,000 in 2009-10, according to athletic director Karen Leinaar, after the Board of Education recently passed a cost-cutting resolution.
At the high school level, Benzie will eliminate its ninth grade boys and girls basketball teams. The JV teams, however, will be expanded to accommodate more players.
Transportation will be affected, too. Nearby trips to the other seven Northwest Conference schools -- as well as Manistee and all Traverse City schools -- will now be "one way deliveries." The school will provide transportation to those sites, but parents will be responsible for their children's return trip.
Leinaar said it's not a drastic change since most athletes normally ride home with a parent after JV and varsity games and few return by bus.
The school will continue to provide two-way transportation to all other sites for regular season games and for all middle school events.
Leinaar said coaches will be working with parents to potentially transport high school athletes to weekend tournaments and to some district, regional and state level events.
There will also be changes at the middle school level, mostly involving staff.
"We're trying to make these cuts without cutting programs," Leinaar said.
Benzie cut $50,000 out of its athletic budget last year, Leinaar said.
