AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va -- Several years ago, the Augusta County School Board reduced the number of games for some sports by about 20 percent. It was meant to cut costs for the schools but allow them to remain competitive.

Recent changes at the Virginia High School League would mean playing fewer games could be bad when it comes to playoff season.

The school board will be asked to add those games back to next year's schedule on Thursday night. This will come with the help of nearly $6,000 from the budget.

Considering the school system already has budget concerns and a lack of teachers, Superintendent Chuck Bishop discussed why this change is important.

“Fifty-six-hundred dollars doesn't do me much in terms of hiring a teacher,” said Bishop. “Very few materials can be bought with that amount of money. I see why some people might have concern about that, but this is about opportunities for kids. We want them to be participating and competing on a level playing field with others, just as we do academically.

The additional games will be going to what Superintendent Bishop calls “secondary sports,” like softball, baseball and track and field. He said football and basketball were never cut because those sports make money for the school district.