Booster Clubs to Raise Money for R-12 Facilities

Forget bake sales; one local booster club is going to need much bigger fundraisers and it’s all in an effort that will save a lot of tax money.

"We're in the combined football, basketball, baseball and P.E. locker room," explained Football Booster Club President Tim Pedigo inside Glendale High School.

During football practices and games, 125 Glendale High School football players bounce off each other in that room.

"It’s pretty limited space and you have to share with other sports and P.E.," explained Glendale Site Athletic Director Jon Ewing.

Speaking of small spaces, the athletic trainer’s office is in a former storage room.  But the real problem is all of those rooms are anything but close to the athletic fields.

"It’s over a half of a mile round trip,” said Pedigo.  “Last year we were penalized for being late back to the field after half time."

Many asked for new facilities.

"We have so many needs in the district; they don't even show up,” explained Springfield Public Schools Facilities Director Jim Dow.  “They're not even on a list."

There are at least $150 million worth of other R-12 building upgrades that outranked it.  But, you could say for the Glendale Football Boosters, the writing was on the locker room wall, which reads, “No Excuses.”

"Not to complain, but give a way to fix the problems," explained Pedigo.

This week the club went to the R-12 School Board.

"We are not requesting district funding for this project,” Pedigo said in his presentation before the board members and instead asked for the booster club’s permission to raise the $750,000 needed to build a new locker room and training facility next to the Glendale football field.

"Tell me what the bad news is, because I don't see any here,” said Board member Jean Twitty.

The Board said yes and now many expect this fan fundraising to spread.

"Glendale isn't the only one at the bottom of the $150 million list and I think what we're doing sets the tone for the other athletic people to step to the plate and say we'd like to be a part of the solution, too for our school.”

And the idea is catching on.  The Kickapoo Booster Club was also given permission this week to fundraise about $100,000 for a public restroom near its athletic fields.

R-12 administrators say it would have taken a tax bond issue to fund the Glendale Training facility project without the boosters’ efforts.