Outside, the fields, courts and tracks are noisy with the sounds of kids and coaches gearing up for a new season of sports at South Whidbey High School.

Inside, the tall guy with the ready smile stuck at his desk would rather be out there, too. But duty calls.

High school athletic director John Patton is working on ways to save the district money without damaging the programs he oversees.

The district still faces a $1.85 million shortfall from its annual $17 million budget due to declining enrollment and the slow economy.

“Our sports programs alone account for just 1.3 percent of the total budget, but I’ve been tasked to cut wherever possible, and I have,” he said Thursday. “But I didn’t want to make cuts that affect kids, coaches and parents, or eliminate an entire sport. It isn’t easy.”

Along with his two local hats — he’s also vice principal at South Whidbey High — Patton is the Cascade Conference president this year and sits on the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, the state governing body for sports, band, drama, choir and other extracurricular pursuits.

“Everybody in the state is taking financial hits, some more than others,” he said.

At the state level, Patton said to look for more regional playoffs that reduce driving time and overnight expenses.

“Instead of Yakima or Spokane, we might have a playoff in Anacortes or Bellingham,” he said.

Another idea is to shorten the season, say 18 instead of 20 basketball games.

“That hasn’t been decided yet, but the WIAA is seriously looking at it,” Patton said.

The league is changing its thinking as well. Three more schools have combined the AD and vice principal jobs, agreed to more double-headers to save travel costs and will have boys and girls play the same night wherever possible.

“Starting last season, we had both volleyball and soccer the same night so both teams could travel on the same bus,” he said. “It made sense, and you’ll see more of that.”

But there are some areas he’s not prepared to tamper with.

Patton noted that some schools have cut out their teams’ “C” squads, but he’s resisting the idea.

“Freshmen are at the highest risk of failing in their first year, and the motivational value of their being on a team is too important,” he said.

Two years ago, the school board increased player fees, from $30 to $50 per sport, but Patton thinks that’s as high as it should go.

“I don’t want to create additional burdens on parents; they have enough on their plates,” he said.

Some schools have eliminated entire sports. “I’m not going there.”

So where are the savings, if any, coming from?

The biggest expenditures are the transportation costs of drivers, fuel and ferry fares. Road trips average $350 each time a team travels; more to Sultan, less to Coupeville.

“All the coaches are taking the Type II driving exam this year that qualifies them to drive a van,” Patton said. “Whenever possible, we’ll use vans instead of buses. It has never made sense to send a bus with 10 athletes on a road trip.”

Patton estimates transportation savings alone to be about $25,000. He hopes to save enough on scheduling and transport to avoid making future cuts.

“Studies and my own observations have shown the value of a quality sports program,” Patton said. “Kids generally have higher grade-point averages, they’re motivated to stay in school, are healthier and learn countless life lessons such as time management skills and working with teammates. I could go on, but I really shouldn’t have to; the value of sports to the community speaks for itself.”

He invited those who don’t have children in the schools to come out this fall for a football, girls soccer, volleyball, boys tennis or cross country event.

“Watch closely, and you’ll see these kids at their very best.”