Schools Forgive $10K To Save Freshmen Sport

The Belmont School Committee voted Tuesday, Sept. 14, to grant The Friends of Belmont Athletics forgiveness of $10,000 advanced to the group this past summer.

"I think it is a gesture of good will on the part of the committee to forgive repayment of the money," said the School Committee's Becky Vose.

"These were extraordinary circumstances (not funding the freshmen sports program due to budget constraints) and we saw extraordinary support from these people."

On July 12, the Friends of Belmont Athletics was established when a group of parents met with the committee and received its permission, along with a $10,000 loan, to raise funds needed to restore all freshmen and Chenery Middle School athletics for the 2010-2011 year.

Friends of Belmont Athletics representatives Ellen Sullivan and Leigh Lynch attended the Sept. 14 meeting to discuss their request with committee members. According to Sullivan, the Friends raised over $42,000 for the cause in less than two months.

If the School committee waives repayment of the 10,000 advance it gave from the Belmont High School Athletic Revolving account, she said, the group will have achieved its goal.

"We've accomplished our mission and want to move forward," Sullivan said.

"With the forgiveness, we can foster a strong relationship and end this chapter."

Enrollment in the freshmen sports program is up and the Friends are thankful to everyone who helped raised the funds necessary to keep the program going, said Lynch.

In order to forgive repayment of the $10,000, the committee had to rescind the motion it made on July 12. According to Chairman Ann Rittenburg, the motion the committee made did require the 10,000 had to be reimbursed.

"At the time, I didn't realize that and thoroughly intended that the funds be 'seed money'," she said. "Clearly, the groups' work has been remarkably successful and not requiring it to repay the money allows for it to truly be a success."

Rittenburg walked the committee through the steps of how to amend the section of the motion that required the money to be reimbursed to the Belmont High School Athletic Revolving Account.

The Friends have now completed their mission and will no longer need to operate as a distinct group, especially since many of its members will be working as members of the  Belmont Boosters to assist in whatever incidental fundraising and support is needed to sustain the sports programs in the Belmont schools.