"Every coach's goal is to win, but the purpose is a bigger thing," Ignacio School District Activities Director Rocky Cundiff told the school board on Oct. 13.
He showed a short video on the "InsideOut Coaching Initiative" featuring Colorado High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) Commissioner Paul Angelico about the goal to promote human growth and emotional well-being of each student, and to transform the sports ethic away from win at all costs.
Sports and activities are a privilege, not an entitlement, Angelico said. "Sports doesn't build character unless the coach models it," he said. The goal is to make players better teammates, to be a part of something bigger than themselves, generally a better person.
"Make them accountable for their actions on and off the field. Don't overlook teachable moments," Angelico said.
Cundiff followed, "I believe most of the coaches on our staff have a higher purpose than winning." If someone on the coaching staff "isn't helping with this purpose, I can't work with them. I have to let them go. This isn't the NFL or college. I'm more interested in life skills."
Around 44 percent of students at Ignacio High School are involved in some extra-curricular activity, Cundiff said. "Band is booming, and honor choir," he said.
According to the board discussion, parents can be the sticking point about winning at all costs.
"How do we approach the parents?" board member Doug Little asked.
Superintendent Rocco Fuschetto said, "Every (pre-season sports) meeting, fall, winter, spring, I'll keep pumping at them." He made reference to parent behavior he's seen in the stands. He said he and other administrators are in the stands to shortcut any problems.
Board member Yvonne Chapman added, "It's embarrassing sometimes as a parent."
Cundiff said, "I don't know that Ignacio has ever been 'win at all costs.'" This program is aimed at coaches.
"I have to talk to the parents," when there's an issue in the stands, Cundiff said, referring to problems at a middle school game in early October.
Fuschetto cited news coverage now being given to third and fourth grade YAFL (Young America Football League) games. "We start younger and younger with the pressure," he said and opined that all sports should be intramural until 9th grade, meaning games within the school, not against teams from other schools.
Also on Oct. 13, board members discussed the potential impacts of the Durango School District pulling out of the San Juan Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) which provides services to special needs students in districts in Southwest Colorado, including Ignacio and Bayfield.
Specialized BOCES staff provide the services instead of each district employing such people.
Kelly McCaw, Ignacio's representative on the BOCES board of directors, said the financial impact on the remaining districts probably will be a lot less than feared, once the Durango 9-R share of funding is gone. She said 9-R wants to still get some BOCES benefits, but "60 to 70 percent of the (BOCES) board would prefer not to do that."
There will be an effect on BOCES jobs, she said. Fuschetto said it's mainly the 15 or 16 BOCES people, such as speech therapists, who provide services to Durango students. If 9-R doesn't hire them, they could be out of a job, he said.
