(Posted Oct. 15, 2018)
By Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer
Jonathan Alder Local Schools’ athletic and music boosters groups have been busy this past year. Representatives shared highlights at the Oct. 8 school board meeting.
“We got a new concession sign,” said Athletic Booster President Michelle Farley-Mancini. “It is so huge, I wondered who would put it up.”
The sign covers the back of the concession stand and has white print on a black background. Interspersed with the white writing of menu items and prices are colorful drawings of snack items. Local artist Hilary Frambes designed and made the sign; contractor G.O. Justus installed it.
Through concession stand sales and the annual Booster Bash, the athletic boosters raised $62,000 this past year. The money went toward:
* state championship banners for the softball team;
* chartering a bus to take the team to the state tournament;
* a new rack in the weight room;
* wall mats;
* a football tackling dummy;
* range balls for the boys’ golf team;
* team shirts for boys’ basketball;
* team bags for boys’ soccer;
* uniforms for girls’ tennis;
* three $500 scholarships; and
* made their second $10,000 commitment to the proposed Alder Field Turf.
The group’s biggest fundraiser, the Booster Bash, will celebrate its 10th year on March 9 at the Bridgewater Conference Center.
Fundraising is big for the JA Music Boosters (JAMB), too, said President Lucas Gutirrez. Over the past five years, those efforts have funded:
* $15,600 in scholarships;
* the purchase of 36 uniforms;
* a trip to Philadelphia and New York;
* a music trailer to haul equipment;
* risers for the junior high choral program;
* a marimba; and
* four rehearsal mirrors.
The music boosters raise money through visitor-side concession stand sales and an annual Sugar Plum Lane event at the winter holidays. Additionally, a mattress sale brought in more money than expected.
Participation in band and choir has grown over the past five years, from 249 students to 414 students in band and from 178 students to 201 students in choir.
At the start of the board meeting, high school Principal Mike Aurin recognized two seniors for outstanding achievement in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Clair Grywalski was named a Commended Scholar and Sandy Moser was named a National Merit Semifinalist.
Commended Scholars placed among the top 50,000 scores of more than 1.6 million students who entered 2019 competition by taking the 2017 PSAT/NMSQT. Moser is one of the approximately 16,000 semifinalists who have the opportunity to continue in competition for National Merit Scholarships.
Board members approved a shared service agreement with Fairbanks Local School District so that Aaron Johnson can continue his part-time work as treasurer at the two districts. The board also voted to renew the lease with YMCA of Union County for the latchkey program.
The next Jonathan Alder school board meeting is set for Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Plain City Elementary.
