pic: Histogram of # years active for teams that have dropped out

[wilsonmw04]

I think it can be safely said there are two reasons a team folds: a lack of money and/or a lack on mentors.

They money issue is touchy. It's hard to justify spending $10k (this is what I think is needed to run a team at a reasonable level every year) a relatively small number of kids when there are other pressing needs. There are other programs that fit smaller budgets. FTC can be done on $2k, for example.

The lack of staff is inexcusable. I have seen it happen locally. The teacher/mentor can't/won't do it next year and the team folds. Why would the administration allow this? if the track coach left, someone would volunteer/voluntold to take the position. Since it's not a sport, it's allowed to fade away.

Guess it's what Dean keeps telling us. We need to change the culture of our community. If STEM was a priority, these sort of things wouldn't happen.