A timeout has been called for young athletes in Elkhart.
Elkhart Community Schools announced a pause on its elementary athletic programming for this upcoming school year.
The break will last for at least a year while they review costs.
There will be no more game days for Elkhart Elementary school students. It’s a decision leaders say will save thousands of dollars, but some are asking at what cost?
For many kids, it’s when the love for a sport begins. This is when kids have their first games, with their first teammates, and get their first wins.
But for Elkhart students, they will not have the option to play sports in elementary school.
The timeout was announced Tuesday night at the end of the school board meeting.
“After careful consideration, we have decided to pause the programming for the upcoming school year to conduct a comprehensive review,” was said during the school board meeting.
The goal of that review? To identify ways to make the program more “effective and financially sustainable.”
WSBT 22 reached out to an Elkhart Schools spokesperson wanting to learn more, but was told no one was available on Wednesday.
They did share a letter sent home to parents.
It stated the decision wasn’t easy but was necessary.
To some parents who attended the board meeting, it was a shock.
“It definitely seemed like the rest of the room was kind of shocked by this information. Nobody, I don’t think anybody saw it coming. I didn’t see it coming because they are very big in athletics at Elkhart Community Schools,” said Andrea Hardy, Elkhart Resident.
According to school leaders, elementary sports costs more than $250,000 a year.
Middle and high school sports will continue as scheduled, and students can still play through community programs.
But for the elementary school coaches, they say it’s going to be different this year
“Just to be fair, I do get it. But I am heartbroken. I’m going to miss being involved in the development of the students’ lives in the area of athletics,” said Sheilla Maeda, former Elkhart elementary soccer & cheer coach.
Maeda is hopeful this is a needed timeout and not the final buzzer.
“I know a lot of my co-workers, a lot of my friends, they are heartbroken. I don’t know if we were all expecting something like this to happen, but yeah. I hope that we resolve these problems soon and things change,” said Maeda.
Parents also say they hope this timeout doesn’t last for long.
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