BY PATRICIA KELLER
WEST MILFORD — The school board agreed to fund the West Milford lacrosse teams in full, after impassioned pleas from parents and players last week.
Families and participants of the West Milford Lacrosse League attended the board of education meeting on Oct. 15 to ask the board to fund their program. Currently, the lacrosse program is completely funded through registration fees and fundraising through the West Milford Lacrosse Booster Club, and costs players approximately $500 each to participate.
The board agreed this week to fund some of the expenses associated with the program, specifically, $14,383 for head coaches, $9,292 for assistant coaches, and $ 4,000 for transportation.
Some lacrosse history in West Milford
Starting in 2008, the director of the West Milford Youth Lacrosse Organization, Michelle Vogt, along with youth players and their parents, attended board meetings to show the commitment the group had to establishing the addition of a high school interscholastic lacrosse program on the junior varsity level. In August of 2009, the board approved the establishment of a junior varsity lacrosse program at West Milford High School for the 2010 spring season, with the agreement that the West Milford Lacrosse Booster Club would fund the program with no cost to the board, maintain the practice field, and handle the storage of the equipment for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 spring seasons as part of a two-year trial period.
In June of 2011, the school board approved the continuation of the junior varsity program and also approved an expansion to a boys varsity program beginning with the 2011–2012 school year, under the same agreement with the board and the Lacrosse Booster Club. The board of education approved the establishment of a girls varsity lacrosse program in May of 2012, beginning with the 2012–2013 school year, also under the same terms of agreement. It was stated in the board's resolution, “It should be noted that the expenses associated with a varsity program are much greater than junior varsity.”
A plea for assistance
Parent Julia Gaffney said there are over 100 students participating in the lacrosse program, and the booster club funds all aspects of the program including uniforms, busing, and equipment, which has resulted in increased costs to participate, amounting to over $500 per player. She asked that the board support the resolution and consider funding the lacrosse program the same as it funds other athletic programs.
Dylan Walko, a West Milford High School senior, shared key points about the program and noted that the price to play has “increased exponentially” making it a hardship for many families. He said the program provides opportunities for college scholarships.
Morgan Kelly, a sophomore, said she has friends who are unable to play lacrosse because of the high cost and they have had to quit the program.
Board discusses funding
Trustee Matt Conlon said the Budget and Finance Committee has been looking into and discussing funding for the lacrosse program with both the former and current athletic directors, Tim Gillen and Joe Trentacosta. They've collected cost analysis data for the past three years for both the lacrosse and ice hockey programs. Conlon said the committee feels strongly about supporting the funding.
Business Administrator Barbara Francisco said the ongoing discussions in the Budget and Finance Committee and the growth of the program were considered during budget planning, and noted that the 2013-2014 School Budget already includes $13,360 earmarked in the Athletic Budget for lacrosse coaches for the spring 2014 season. The additional cost for this program will be $14,315. The total funding for the 2014 lacrosse season will be $27,675.
It was questioned by Trustee Jim Foody and confirmed by Superintendent of Schools Dr. James McLaughlin that the lacrosse program, although funded independently, is still a school team and is included in the new Random Drug Testing Program, and would be regardless of the funding. Funding of the program by the district will require lacrosse players to pay the $75 Student Activity Participation Fee. Francisco said this should not affect many of the students though, since she said the majority of them already pay the fee through participation in other activities.
Trustee Marilyn Schultz said she would like the board to fully fund the program as a team just like any other sport.
Trustee Wayne Gottlieb said he would like a cost analysis for both lacrosse and hockey so there can be equitable distribution of funds for both sports.
Ice hockey funding
The board also approved funding for additional expenses associated with the West Milford ice hockey program: $2,200 for officials, $1,800 for security, and $1,200 for an athletic trainer. Francisco said the district already absorbs some costs for the hockey program, about $24,000, for coaches and transportation.