City coaches could have stipends cut

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It’s not time to panic yet, but here’s some disturbing news: Coaches in the Los Angeles Unified School District could face a 50% reduction in their stipend pay under a proposal that the Los Angeles Board of Education is considering for the 2010-11 school year, according to Barbara Fiege, the City Section commissioner.

Fiege made the announcement Monday at a meeting of the City Interscholastic Athletic Committee, which oversees the district’s athletic program.

The proposal is part of a “difficult cuts” list that may be needed to balance the budget next year. But it remains to be seen where the proposal is headed because United Teachers Los Angeles, which represents teachers, is expected to be involved in any negotiations.

It’s hard to believe the board wants to go down this route. Cutting sports programs has proved to be one of the most divisive, unproductive maneuvers, and it creates bad vibes for everyone. Let’s hope common sense wins out when budget talks resume, or I expect the board to face large demonstrations of disapproval.

As it stands, the stipends aren’t very much. The highest-paid football coach receives a stipend of $2,811. But coaches who are married will have a hard time explaining to their spouses why they are devoting so much time for such little pay.

-- Eric Sondheimer