Schools

Group Looks to Raise $100,000 for Canton Track and Field Amenities

School officials also provide some project updates.

Update Nov. 12. 

The town has now added a scoreboard to this project. 

Original Story - Oct. 22 

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A fundraising effort for items related to the track and field project at Canton High School is underway.

Tuesday night, a community member involved in the "Canton Track and Field Fundraising Project" provided the Board of Education with a brief update on the group’s goal of raising $100,000.

Find out what's happening in Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We want to be very specific about our marketing strategy,” DiMartino said.

The idea is to fund items not budgeted in the $3.6 million track and field and parking lot project, such as bleachers and a scoreboard. A projected surplus could potentially partially or fully fund some of those items as well but the group knows it won’t cover everything.

Currently the project is finalizing its very targeted fundraising efforts and is working on materials such as a marketing brochure, volunteer Kristina DiMartino said.

In addition to DiMartino, those involved in the group include schools officials, athletic director Dee Stephan and additional volunteers. 

Board of Education chairman Leslee Hill said the board could not initiate such a fundraising effort and thanked DiMartino and the others involved, which include Superintendent Kevin Case, Assistant Superintendent Kevin Case, Jennifer Barri, Jon Webb, Jen Charron and Athletic Director Dee Stephan.

“We need volunteers to form a committee,” Hill said. “It’s so valuable to the community. The board really appreciates the work.”

The members will next meet on Oct. 31 to finalize the brochure and work on other efforts.

Until the brochure is printed and more specifics published, DiMartino said anyone interested in donating can contact her directly at (860) 712-8200 or kldimartino@comcast.net 

Other track issues were briefly discussed at the Board of Education meeting Tuesday night. Crews were painting lines on the track surface earlier in the day but an exact completion date is still unknown, Case said.

He also briefly addressed proposed user fees discussed at a previous board meeting. The district has done more research into what other schools charge and he recommended to board’s finance and policy subcommittees meet to discuss the issue.

“Our goal is to charge fees to for-profit athletic teams,” he said.

Additionally, Case said administrators began discussion with the Board of Finance to request that any user fees go toward areas such as upkeep and maintenance of the field. The finance board has requested the schools come up with some revenue details and projections.

Case also reiterated that members of the community could use the facility when it’s not in being utilized.

He also said there has been and will be additional precautions to protect the surfaces and let people know pets are not allowed on the facility.

 


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