It’s no secret that our athletic department is not funded as well as we would like.  However, we are lucky enough to have one central boosters club for all sports teams that is able to raise money for many of our higher priced needs. Soccer goals, field hockey goals, wrestling pads, football goal posts, cheerleading competition pads, high jump pads, and weight room equipment are just some of the plethora of equipment that the boosters club has been able to donate throughout the years.

It’s no secret that our athletic department is not funded as well as we would like.  However, we are lucky enough to have one central boosters club for all sports teams that is able to raise money for many of our higher priced needs. Soccer goals, field hockey goals, wrestling pads, football goal posts, cheerleading competition pads, high jump pads, and weight room equipment are just some of the plethora of equipment that the boosters club has been able to donate throughout the years.{sidebar id=4}

There are currently four sports that need to fund raise in order to exist.  Boys’ and girls’ skiing are not funded by the school and need to raise money for all aspects of their sport.  Boys’ and girls’ hockey need to raise money to help pay for the high price of ice rental.  Currently the school pays for approximately 50 percent of our annual cost in ice. Parents from both the girls’ and boys’ programs raise money to pay for the rest of the cost. If the parents decided not to raise money, the school would be forced to cut practices and game time down to fit what the school could afford.{sidebar id=1}

Many sports have separate fund raisers to directly aide their programs. The majority of these fund raisers are either to aide the costs of post-season banquets or to buy items that are considered wants, more than needs. Some programs have also decided to buy their own uniforms. The athletic department buys uniforms on a rotational basis. If a program wants uniforms earlier then their spot in the rotation, then they may fund raise in order to achieve that goal. On other occasions, teams have decided that they wanted more expensive uniforms then what the athletic department is able to provide. In this case they also fund raise.

These separate groups may not raise funds to pay for any out-of-season activities. For example, a parents’ group may not fund students going to a summer camp or purchasing rental time for out-of-season practices. All groups that choose to fund raise are required by school policy to submit a request form to the Principal of the high school.

As a parent of a student-athlete, you are never required to fund raise for a sport funded by the school. The school provides the bare basics. Your child’s ability to be and play on a team cannot be tied in with the choice to fund raise or not. All groups that choose to fund raise should provide reasoning for any of their fundraising activities. As a parent, you can then decide if you wish to aid.{sidebar id=6}