School District Aiming to Launch Freshman Boy's Lacrosse Team By Spring

The school district is aiming to in time for the spring season, Board of Education President Jack Martenak said.

“The co-curricular committee has met with the athletic director Ms. Hughes and she has presented a plan that would allow us to work with her existing budget,” Martenak said. “We don’t have all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed but it looks like we can make that happen.”

The boys lacrosse program launched in the spring of 2009 with just a junior varsity team. During the spring of 2010, the district began a varsity team as well.

The sport has continued to grow. In 2009, the program had approximately 21 players. In 2010 there was a total of 36 and 41 last season, varsity lacrosse coach Shane Allen said. Most school districts keep 18 to 20 players on their varsity teams.

“The fact that it is even a topic of conversation is exciting,” Allen previously said. “There’s no question that freshman team would help us further our high school program.”

Start up costs will be approximately $9,000, board member Bruce Carney said. There were funds left over in surplus but Hughes will have to come up with $2,000 to $3,000. Carney said some of that money would be made available through retiring coaches.

“I’m so excited. It’s going to be great,” said Resident Peggy Gotti, who submitted a proposal to the school board in June. “I appreciate that and it feels good to have done the cheering.”

An existing freshman boy’s lacrosse team will strengthen the program, she also said.

“There are going to be a lot of kids who are going to be so excited about that decision not to mention parents like me,” Gotti said. “These kids are very psyched and are very talented. I appreciate that and it feels good to have done the cheering.”

But resident Tony Risoli was concerned that launching the team would exceed what is offered to the girls.

“I would hope that within the budget that you’re not going to exceed what’s been allocated already athletically,” he said. “If there’s going to be an increase, that the increase not only be served for the boys freshman team but for a girls athletic activity.”

If the school district plans to increase the amount spent on athletics for boys and overlook the girls, they should consider cutting another area of the boys program to pay for the new lacrosse team, Risoli said.

“I don’t know if you’re bound by Title IX but if you’re going to increase the athletics on one side of the ledger, you should consider increasing the activities on the other side of the ledger so it is balanced,”

Title IX is a law that was enacted in 1972 to ensure equal opportunity for both genders.

“The board has always been conscious of Title IX and the quality of female sports,” Carney said. “I’m sure we’re well within compliance.”