Sterling kicks off A-Plus program

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STERLING - Those of you who voted "yes" on Unit 5's tax hike referendum now have a way to give the school district the extra money you would have paid in property taxes. Sterling Schools Foundation Executive Director Jim Spencer unveiled the A-Plus fundraiser Wednesday at the school board meeting; it aims to save high school sports and fine arts programs, which together cost the district about $785,000 a year.

The goal is to raise at least $275,000; the Dillon Foundation will match up to that amount and the district then must pay roughly $235,000.

The first phase is a challenge to the more than 1,500 people who voted to pass a property tax hike: Donate that money to A-plus, foundation officials suggest. Had the referendum passed, the owner of a $90,000 house would have paid $150 a year for three years.

The fundraiser will run at least three years. If it is successful, it will ensure that high schools sports and fine arts will be offered from 2008 through 2011.

The district will pay for high school sports and fine arts for the 2007-08 school year. It will not cut any other district-paid programs. This means the district will run $700,000 to $800,000 in the red next school year.

The district is facing a projected $1.1 million budget deficit. The administration already has planned $300,000 in cuts, which include eliminating a high school administrator and purchasing fewer books and other resources for teachers, among other things. Still, the district must cut $250,000 more from budget.

The administration plans to present the additional budget cuts to the school board by December. Those cuts could include nurses, foreign language classes, guidance counselors and participation in the Whiteside Area Career Center.

"(The fundraiser) will let us really look at things in depth and give us the opportunity to focus on the academics and the right decisions we need to make to maintain a good school district and maintain those academic opportunities we need to have for students," Superintendent Wil Booker said.

Foundation board members chose to support high school sports and fine arts because they are an important part of the educational experience - co-curricular, rather than extracurricular, Spencer said, noting that students who are involved in athletics do better academically.

They also believed the community can't attract new businesses and families to the area without such programs, Spencer said.

The nonprofit Sterling Schools Foundation already raises about $250,000 a year through special events such as an annual hog roast, corn boil and golf outing. It also plans concerts in Centennial Auditorium, a back-to-school bash, and will seek donations from businesses and community organizations.

Reach Joseph Bustos at (815) 625-3600 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 529.