TONAWANDA CITY SCHOOLS
Modified soccer pushed for Tonawanda district
An overflow crowd of soccer moms, dads and kids filled the Tonawanda High School Media Center on Tuesday night to petition the School Board to implement a modified soccer program in the district.
“We have come tonight to ensure that our desire and passion is recognized in any future decision-making regarding modified soccer for the district,” said Ronald Schoelerman, who represented the soccer parents and children. “There are numerous benefits to involving our youth in as many structured activities as possible.”
Schoelerman estimated that 1 in 4 children play soccer in the City of Tonawanda. The soccer advocates believe that the program would cost $20,000 in the first year, but Schoelerman said, “We think it’s an overestimate.”
School Superintendent Whitney K. Vantine was receptive to the idea, indicating that the administration will see many requests such as the one for a soccer program in the coming months as the 2009-10 budget is planned.
Given Gov. David A. Paterson’s intention to cut school and health care funding in the current budget at midyear, with more cuts likely next year, Vantine called on everybody in Tonawanda to work “smarter” in controlling finances.
“Like every district in the state, we need to be smarter,” he said. “We have to look at all those [budget] lines and at the available resources. What will be the footprint of this district?”
Vantine announced that school administrators would be moved out of the district building on Broad Street by the end of the week.
Now working in offices in the high school, Vantine is working on a plan to present to the School Board on how to sell the facility. While there will be few savings in not operating the building, Vantine used the move as an example of working smarter for the district.
Although the State Senate and the Assembly held an emergency session Tuesday to deal with the state’s fiscal crisis, no action was taken.
“It’s almost premature,” Vantine said when asked if the district has developed a plan to deal with possible cuts in funding this year. “We’re hoping that [Paterson] comes out with a better picture.”
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