Local construction company Granite Rock is working to cement the
future of the Aromas School’s athletic program by donating nearly
$13,000 to help the school secure dedicated coaches for after-
school sports.
Hollister – Local construction company Granite Rock is working to cement the future of the Aromas School’s athletic program by donating nearly $13,000 to help the school secure dedicated coaches for after- school sports.
The money will be used to give small monetary stipends to 17 coaches who work extra hours running the school’s extracurricular sports program, Athletic Director Mike Dorney said Tuesday. The school’s 10 sports teams play in a competitive league against other small schools in San Benito County.
“It’s so hard to find coaches, so stipends help,” he said. “Granite Rock has always been really good to us. They came in and asked what they could do to help.”
Dorney said it is hard to attract coaches because few people have the time it takes to lead teams and travel to games in other cities.
Saving money on stipends will allow the school to buy new equipment, such as basketballs and footballs, for its physical education classes, Dorney said.
“We’ve skimped by for years, so this really helps,” he said. “Our students are really excited about playing sports and every one of my coaches is very dedicated to the program.”
More than 100 students in grades kindergarten through eighth participate in the after-school athletic program. They compete against other small middle schools throughout the county in football, basketball, track, cross country, volleyball and soccer.
“We’re very competitive,” Dorney said. “Every year I believe we get better – it’s a quality program.”
Granite Rock employees heard the school was in need of some extra money and decided to help out, spokesman Jim West said.
“We’ve been in Aromas for 105 years and we know how pressed the schools are right now,” he said. “Aromas is the heart and soul of Granite Rock and we were happy to be able to make a contribution.”
Granite Rock, a privately held company, employs 700 people and does heavy construction for highway and airport projects. The company produces rock, sand, gravel, concrete and asphalt.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
