Coaches, Athletes Cope With Deficient Facilities... -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 10/7/1999
Last Visited: 4/30/2001
Allen Chin , athletic director for the DCIAA , said that instead of jostling the system , too often the system has jostled him.He would like an increased budget , but said at times he would settle for a visible one.
It was like pulling teeth when we wanted to get [ a copy of ] our budget , Chin said of the mid-'90s.If we don't spend all our money at one time , if there is money left at the end of the year , the money seems to get lost..
Even when money doesn't get lost , one can question how it has been spent.Earlier this decade , Anacostia and McKinley were each tabbed to receive $ 1.5 million stadiums.Anacostia's stadium was put on indefinite hold , but not before the school system spent $ 43 , 000 designing it.
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Four years later , the school closed , and the incomplete site is now off limits to teams , Chin said.
Anacostia's eight-years-and-counting wait for its stadium is an extreme instance of a common problem , said several school administrators who have had difficulty receiving funds.Getting money budgeted for a project doesn't always result in actually getting the money.
It's actually better when they tell you 'no , ' said one school official who did not want to be identified and has struggled to secure promised funding.When they tell you 'yes , ' and it never happens , what leverage do you have.If you go to somebody else and say , 'They haven't done it , ' they come back and say , 'They said they will do it.'.
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The business of the city is government , Chin said.There aren't many corporations. [ But ] I'll try anything..
So will Wilson and other schools.Eddie Saah , Wilson's athletic director and baseball coach , formed a booster club about four years ago to help sustain his department.He said the club brought in $ 10 , 000 to $ 15 , 000 this past year.