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Swanton Activities Will Stay

SWANTON -- School kids in Swanton will have their extra-curricular activities through the end of this year thanks to $107,000 raised by the community.

Bill Pilliod lead the effort after the school board told the folks of Swanton it cannot keep extra-curriculars in the budget. "I'm very happy for the kids," said Pilliod. "This is what it's all about," he added.  Pilliod presented the check to a group of about 75 students standing in front of the board at the high school.  Board President Bill Green took the check, the board unamimously voted to accepted it, and about three-fourths of the crowd stood up and cheered.

"I think it's really great to see how fast someone in our community cares about our town supporting us," said student athlete Chelsea White. Her basketball teammate Emily Witt said, "I am so happy. It's my senior year and a lot of the best times I've had are through sports," she said.

Not everyone likes the idea. Some parents said that money should be spent on teachers and education in the classroom rather than extra activities after school. "I feel for the very first time in my life embarrassed to be in Swanton, said Lee Miller who also complained about elementary school trips no being funded by private donations even after offers had been made to make them happen.

The school district still faces a tough road trying to find $1.15 million to either cut or add by next year.

Posted Wednesday, November 12, 2003 at 7:30 a.m.