The Hood River County School District issued some sobering budget news this week (details, page A1).
    Proposed cuts include eliminating interscholastic middle school sports, along with some job cuts.

But the district deserves credit for figuring out a way to lessen the impact on classroom programs next year, in the face of serious revenue shortfall and general fiscal uncertainty.

It’s not too late to have a say in the unfortunate budgetary situation facing the school district (which is undergoing the same type of major cuts as the city and county). The school board is scheduled to make a decision on the budget June 23.

One of the recommended reductions is to eliminate all interscholastic sports in middle schools and add intramural programs.

With intramurals replacing interscholastic sports, field trips eliminated and instructional supply purchases greatly reduced, along with the folding of Talented and Gifted programs into teacher and principal duties, it’s time for the community to think of ways to help out — just as people did in the 2004-05 school year, when similar cuts took place. (Though, thankfully, there is no major cut planned next year to elementary PE and music programs, the most controversial of all six years ago.)

The intramural alternative is a creative one, but it will need the support of community members who are willing to help coach, supervise and even referee the activities.

As the schools do more to encourage creativity in our young people, the time has come to think creatively about helping sustain education programs in a time of a severely constricted economy that is taking its toll on our schools.