Memphis schools seek corporate financial help for sports programs

The school system, the largest in the state, is working on plans to use donations from First Tennessee to help cover the cost of sports equipment, transportation to tournaments and other such expenses.

First Tennessee is proposing donations totaling $90,000 over three years. The city school board gave the OK Monday night for the Memphis Interscholastic Athletic Association to work out a contract with First Tennessee for that assistance.

Under the agreement, First Tennessee would be allowed to sponsor athletic awards and place signs at school stadiums.

School Superintendent Carol Johnson said the system cannot maintain all its sports programs without outside help.

“Some of our parents can’t afford to pay those extended expenses, like transportation, but still want their children engaged in sports and extracurricular activities,” Johnson said.

Getting sports money from a private sponsor would be a first for the school system.

“This is uncharted territory here and we’ll have to learn from this and see what works,” said Bernadeia Johnson, a deputy superintendent. “You want to be careful about going fully into sponsorship because you’re at the whim of an outside entity.”

———

Information from: The Commercial Appeal, http://www.gomemphis.com