The decision of the Live Oak Athletic Booster Club to fund
sports slated to be cut this year drew praise from School Board
trustees at Monday
’s meeting.
The decision of the Live Oak Athletic Booster Club to fund sports slated to be cut this year drew praise from School Board trustees at Monday’s meeting.
“I am glad to see the community, specifically the boosters, step forward to support our schools,” Trustee George Panos, sitting in for absent Board President Tom Kinoshita, said.
The sports narrowly escaping the budgetary ax include freshman baseball (boys), freshman volleyball (girls), varsity golf (boys and girls teams), varsity tennis (boys and girls teams), varsity diving (co-ed) and junior varsity wrestling (co-ed).
The boosters agreed to contribute $25,000 to fund these sports.
The board decided during the July 21 board meeting to reinstate freshman football before the season started. Trustees heard information from Donna Foster, president of the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers, and Live Oak Varsity Football Coach Glen Webb describing the football team as basically self-supporting.
The tennis teams were also reinstated at the July 21 meeting because the season began in August; funding for the program, however, was left up to parents and the community.
Trustee Shellé Thomas said the board could reinstate the sport, but the district didn’t have the money, so trustees were taking a “leap of faith,” and relying on the community to come up with the money.
Booster President Pam Mom accepted the thanks of the board Monday night, adding that there were many people involved in the effort.
“A lot of people who care worked very hard for the kids,” she said.
The club is still looking for ways to raise money.
There are several ways to help high school sports programs.
• Sponsor a booster event
• Make a donation to the booster club
• Support booster events by participating
The next fundraising event is a golf tournament Oct. 3 at Eagle Ridge Golf Course and Country Club. Event chair Deb Guidry said there are still a number of openings for golf foursomes. The $175 entry fee includes use of a cart, range balls, buffet breakfast, complimentary drinks on the course, a buffet dinner with complimentary wine, tee prizes, trophies for winning teams and a chance to win a new car. Non-golfers can join in the fun and support the boosters with a $35 ticket to the post-tournament cocktail party and dinner.
For additional information, contact Pam Mom at 778-7860, Deb Guidry at 778-9467 or Tam Bouslog at 779-1958.
