Sports Column

The Philadelphia school board this month honored Local 1201 of the International Brotherhood of Firemen and Oilers for diverting a share of its members' wage hike to the local school district's cash-strapped athletic programs.

The novel agreement between the district and the union, which represents building engineers, bus drivers and attendants, custodians, and school aides, will provide $400,000 per year for at least two years for the purchase of equipment.

As a result of the district's financial woes, officials had cut the sports budget for the current school...