Individuals in Easton Community Come Forward to Support Wrestling Program

Can a community of sports-loving individuals support our sports programs?

A message from West Ward resident, Carinne Buzzuto, who attended the EASD's Athletics Committee meeting last week, on new developments in the Easton Area School District's budget with regard to our athletics programs:

"Only months ago what seemed like the entire community was in an uproar over our school budget. Residents unable to continue to foot the bill/ go broke, middle school athletes who would lose their sports, a union who weighed in too late losing
important teachers, and rich superintendents who were about to get richer (all the while saying “but I work hard, I deserve to”… as if being rich is not good enough).

Through it all one opinion I had stayed constant. To save school sports, the sports community should save themselves. Honestly, I thought they could do it based on my knowledge of how many people cared, and how passionate they were. Still, I thought they probably wouldn’t do it, because it is cheaper and easier to let every taxpayer (seniors, non-parents, and those who have never and will never enjoy the sports) pay.

Well I was wrong. Couch Powell and his crew worked hard and raised the ENTIRE budget for a year of middle school 2^nd team wrestling, about $6000! That left the Athletic committee with 2 questions (from President Pat Fisher) at the October 14^th meeting.

1.   Will this cause other 2^nd team cut sports to want the same reinstatement?  

2.   Are there any legal concerns to be addressed before reinstating the team (that would not exist if they were a “club”)?

As for the 1st question asked, I think all can agree with the answer “I hope so!” How incredible if all 2^nd team sports can be funded in this way. It is something really wonderful and unique that Coach Powell accomplished and I really hope others can and will follow his lead. As far as I see it’s a win-win.

So that only leaves only our 2nd question asked. The board, and the public present at the meeting felt the answer is probably no, there is no major legal issue involved. Pat Fisher acting very responsible reminded everyone that we are not the solicitor and only he can say for sure. So I hope that by the next board meeting October 28^th, they get the answer. The problem is the solicitor was asked 2 weeks ago to give this very same answer for the October 14^th meeting and failed to do so. I hope he has a reasonable excuse for the his delay, and all goes well for the students sake. If not, what will they do with the $6000.? Perhaps the solicitor will suggest a donation to his personal lawsuit against our newspaper. Oh that’s right, we as taxpayer’s are already paying for that…"