Booster Club Scrambling To Raise $1.5M+ To Save 6 Sports

May 7, 2012 /
PostStar.com, Pete Tobey

http://poststar.com/sports/cambridge-eyes-fundraising-to-restore-sports/article_1d9d932e-9808-11e1-b9a4-0019bb2963f4.html

Boosters are ready to mobilize in support of the Cambridge Central School athletic program, but if the school district’s proposed budget does not pass May 15, a tough job would become much more difficult.

Cambridge plans to cut half its sports programs as part of closing a budget deficit of more than $1.5 million. The Cambridge Tribesmen Booster Club is ready to raise funds to restore six sports that were eliminated in the proposed budget.

“We have a contingent out there ready to roll, but first we have to pass the budget on May 15,” athletic director Deb Lauver said. “If we don’t pass what we have, we could be worse off; that may take all sports out.

“So we’re getting the word out to pass the budget on May 15. Then if we pass the budget, we can work on fundraising.”

Six programs, including the Indians’ highly successful football program, are funded in the proposed $17,273,518 budget, a spending plan that comes with a 4.27-percent tax increase. The proposed budget also includes funding for girls soccer, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball.

Six programs were cut from the budget — golf, boys soccer, volleyball, wrestling, boys lacrosse, and boys and girls track. Cheerleading and all extracurricular programs were also eliminated, along with 17 jobs, including 13 teaching positions.

“It’s not just sports; it’s all clubs and activities, extracurriculars, multiple staff members,” Lauver said. “It’s a sad situation — where do you cut?”

If the proposed budget is defeated, it would go to a second vote, and if it fails a second time, it must revert to a contingency budget, which could eliminate all sports and force deeper cuts.

“We need the budget to pass so we can see what we need to do to bring back all sports,” said Deb Brownell, president of the Cambridge Tribesmen Booster Club, the school’s all-sports booster club.

“We don’t want to fundraise for one sport, but all sports. We don’t want to pick and choose which ones get funded,” Brownell said. “We want to see the other sports come back.”

Cambridge boys lacrosse coach Tom Pillsworth said his Indians are taking the grim outlook of the school’s budget crisis in stride.

The team is enjoying success this season, with a 8-1 overall record and leading the fledgling Wasaren League.

“Obviously, as a coach, when you first hear it, it’s tough. You feel for the kids,” Pillsworth said. “This is the fourth year of our program, our third year of varsity. The kids are enjoying it; it’s very popular.”

So the approach the team decided to take was to concentrate on playing well on the field.

“We just said, ‘It’s above our pay grade. There’s bigger issues at stake here, and we’ll let the people who have a say in it work it out. We’ll focus on our season and leave it for the adults to decide things,’” Pillsworth said. “And that’s what the players have done. They’re focusing on the season and not letting this be a distraction.”

“It’s really important for me that every one of our athletes can continue to play their sport,” Lauver said. “If a sport dies out because there’s not enough numbers, that’s one thing, but pulling the rug out from under kids, I don’t think that’s right. We’re just hoping and praying they’ll pass this thing so we can bring back those sports.”

Lauver and Brownell both expressed optimism that the community will rally the financial support needed to restore the eliminated sports.

“Our philosophy is we’re going for it all. We’ll raise funds for everybody,” Lauver said. “There are three individuals in town who are working very hard to make that happen. They have some great ideas, and we’re going to channel money through the booster club for all sports, and hopefully we can get through the next couple of years.”

“We’re excited — if the budget passes, we have confidence that we can do this,” Brownell said. “We’re not limited to the booster club; no one person or group will be able to do this.”

Brownell said the booster club has some fundraising ideas in mind, including a possible 5K run this summer, but nothing’s concrete yet. They are also looking for grant writers and corporate sponsors.

“I’m impressed with that school, which is why I know they’ll work to find a way to bring everything back,” said Pillsworth, who does not work in the school district. “It’s just hard economic times, and they’re doing their best. We’re respectful of the process, and we’re hoping that the booster club can help everyone out.”

Pillsworth said his own players are optimistic about the future.

“I remember when I broke the news to the kids after practice, one of the freshmen in the back said, ‘Don’t worry, coach, we’ll be back,’” Pillsworth said. “So they’re optimistic; nobody’s got their heads down.”



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