BUILDING A SMALL GROUP BUDGET 1

Building a Small Group Budget

Lekisha Morris

Grand Canyon University: EAD 510

August 26, 2020

Dr. Dawn Johnson

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The small group budget that will be discussed is the Girls’ Junior High Basketball Team

budget at Odyssey Preparatory Academy. This will focus on what the program is and what the

budget is. This will be also focus on the various explanations such as various strategies that are

used in order to maintain the overall budget for this program.

The girls’ basketball team is an extracurricular activity that is offered to junior high

students. This activity takes place after school and there are fees that are involved with this

program. Each player, after they have tried out and been selected for the team are responsible

for paying $300 for various fees and other costs that are associated with the program. Students

who are a part of this team practice Monday – Friday and once the season begins, they will have

games throughout the week. The budget for the program will be shared in an Excel document.

Possible budget implications that could occur could be a shift in the overall interest of the

program to where many students decide not to try out or an influx of students who show interest.

Although there are an allotted number of spots on the team, these numbers can vary annually due

to the talent that is portrayed during tryouts. A drop in the number of players could result in not

having enough players to have a season. However, a large increase and the team being full could

result in more funding needed for tournaments, transportation, etc.

Another implication in the budget could be due to COVID-19. Many sports programs

have been cancelled for the season and due to these decisions, that have been made, it could

affect the overall fundraising and donations that are typically collected before the season begins

to help with fees. This could affect the budget going into next year as well.

The major resource needed for the basketball team is for students to be involved. The

program can sustain if we have these students. If there are students who are participating and
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willing to pays their fees and participate in fundraising, the program will do well and continue to

operate annually. This can allow more funding for school, more publicity, and possibly allow

more coaches to help build a more lucrative program. Student and parent buy-in to the

basketball team is an invaluable resource to the program that will allow it to continue to be

viable.

Additionally, being able to foresee various challenges that may occur and able to move

around funds or possibly sit out for a certain tournament helps with funding, but also seeing if we

could possibly have volunteers to help cut some cost for the program helps as well. Staff who

can coach the players as well as provide additional resources helps build the team. Ensuring

there is space in the building as well as maintenance and other upkeep is necessary for this

program. The materials such as uniforms, balls, etc., that are provided can allow the students a

great program where they can really strengthen their skills.

Maintaining a program of such must focus on the overall mission and vision of the school

is key when having a successful program. The school’s vision of being dedicated to student

success through world-class education and being supportive, trustworthy, and fair allows for the

success in carrying out the school vision (Odyssey, 2020). Maintaining high expectations,

cultivating individual student learning through a variety of teaching methods and overcoming

adversity helps evolve the decision-making process that aligns with the school vision as well.

Aligning the program with these methods allows the players to see the connections not only on

the team but in the classroom as well.

The basketball team’s budget helps support the school’s goals by not only supporting the

student’s successes but it allows the program to be an asset to the school to allow it to become

more competitive with other charter schools in the area that don’t provide such programs as
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these. It provides a structured program that helps build student’s self-esteem, character, and

overall responsibility that they will need as they get older in order to prepare them for the world

that is ahead of them. This program not only allows students to connect with staff, but it allows

them to connect with other students as well.

Grades will be monitored as well as the overall budget to see what the impact of the

program has on the students as well as the school. The student’s grades and their overall

progress can be monitored by looking at progress reports and report cards and possibly providing

tutoring sessions for those students for a specific time before practice begins. Setting the

students up for success with this program is key in the overall goals of the school and it is the

responsibility of the coaches to maintain the school’s mission and values throughout this process.
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References

Odyssey Preparatory Academy. (2020) Parent Student Handbook: Mission and Vision: AZ

(Legal). Odyssey Parent Student Handbook. Retrieved from http://policy.azsba.org