The Aromas – San Juan Unified School District voted unanimously
to approve a new committee that would specifically look at
fundraising efforts for a potential football program at Anzar High
School last month.
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
The Aromas – San Juan Unified School District voted unanimously to approve a new committee that would specifically look at fundraising efforts for a potential football program at Anzar High School last month.
The Board of Trustees voted 5-0 in favor of the committee, which will be a board-appointed committee headed by David Moore.
Moore was also the chairman of the Football Advisory Committee (FAC), which was established in December to study the functionality and feasibility of a football program at Anzar High School.
The FAC concluded earlier this year that interest in football was high among surveyed students at Aromas School, San Juan School and Anzar High School. The fall sport was voted as the No. 1 selection in two different surveys — a student-interest survey geared toward potential players and fans that included several general sport options, as well as a second survey that listed only fall sport options.
Moore could not be reached for comment by press time, although is expected to present potential committee members for board approval at a future meeting.
The next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Aromas School Library on Aug. 11.
The new committee is expected to look into start-up costs and finances for a potential football program at the San Juan Bautista high school. While one of the goals is to establish a football program by the 2011-12 school year, the program also has to be cost-neutral to the district, Board of Trustees member Mike Perez said.
Added Perez, the purpose of the new committee “is to go out and find the funds, to see if football can be done.”
The FAC previously estimated $25,000 would be needed in order to establish an 8-man football team based on numbers provided by Marina High School ($23,338) and Trinity Christian ($22,725). Both of the local schools started 8-man football programs with similar funds in recent years, according to a board agenda document.
Establishing an 8-man football team would most likely place Anzar into the Coastal Athletic League, which is currently made up of six 8-man teams, including Gilroy’s Anchorpoint Christian. Other teams within the league include Crystal Springs Uplands in Hillsborough, Pinewood School in Los Altos and Woodside Priory in Portola Valley, as well as both Marina High and Monterey’s Trinity Christian.
A new football program would certainly boost the number of male athletes who compete in the fall months at Anzar High — a school of roughly 400 students. The FAC previously concluded that participation among male athletes was low, as Anzar only offers girls volleyball and coed cross country during the fall season.
