Lakeview Board Members Debate Contribution to Hockey Program

The hockey team shared by the city’s three school districts was the topic of discussion among members the Lakeview Board of Education.

Lakeview's board members recently engaged in an extended debate over a proposed motion to contribute $3,000 to the Lakers Unified Hockey Team.

The Lakers team was formed in 2003 and is comprised of players from Lake Shore, Lakeview and South Lake Schools.

As the measure appeared to be headed for defeat, Trustee Donald Wheaton Jr. amended the motion by making it a donation to cover referee costs at home games. The motion passed 4-3, with Carol Herbon, Michael McCain and Michael Wenner casting dissenting votes.

Board members raised various points of contention, several of which centered on the lack of contribution from South Lake.

In 2009, Lakeview contributed an introductory amount of $12,000 for the hockey program, provided that Lake Shore and South Lake would pay a contingency amount prorated based on their students’ participation.

Lake Shore has been contributing $3,000 annually in the form of transporting the team to away games. Lakeview maintains that South Lake has not made any contributions toward the program.

South Lake officials disagree.

“South Lake Schools did handle the transportation for three or four years,” said Matthew Dishman, director of business and operations.

“The original agreement was that this would be a self-supporting program,” Dishman said. “As you can see by a 4-3 vote (on the Lakeview board), not everyone agrees with contributing taxpayer money to the hockey program, which has only a few students involved from each school district. I believe South Lake Schools has two students on the team this year. In short, South Lake Schools abides by the original agreement of the Unified Hockey Team being a self- supporting program and not using general-fund dollars.”

During their discussion, some Lakeview board members suggested that the district exclusively take over the hockey program, but others said the district wouldn’t have enough players to sustain the team.

Wenner said he would like to see a record of what the hockey team is raising on its own.

Each player contributes $2,000 annually either by check or by raising the funds, said Board Vice President Timothy Houlihan, an avid follower of the Lakers.

The fundraising is simply not enough to cover all of the cots, especially now that the team needs some new equipment, such as helmets and bags, Houlihan said.

“We have grossly overpaid,” said Wenner, referring to Lakeview’s $12,000 contribution. “The original sales pitch (from the parents) was that they’d be self-funded. They’re going back on their word.”