East Islip school's spring sports at risk

Eighth-grader Nicholas Carney wants to play lacrosse this spring, but it'll happen only if East Islip Middle School parents come to the rescue -- again.

The district axed all middle school sports for 2011-12, but parents raised $56,000 to save fall and winter sports.

The spring season for about 200 seventh- and eighth-grade athletes, however, remains in jeopardy.

"It doesn't seem fair that they took it away," said Carney, 13.

Parents need to raise about $50,000 more, with the district setting a Feb. 1 deadline for assurances that the target can be reached.

The $103-million district budget for this school year includes a 6.98 percent tax increase. Besides scrapping middle-school sports, some teacher positions in the district were also cut.

"Athletics is a very important part of a student's education, but they tried to preserve the core academic standards, and they had to make some tough decisions," said district athletic director Steven Restivo.

Superintendent Jay Finello could not be reached Friday, but the district said in a letter on its website that over the past two years state aid has declined by 12.37 percent, or more than $4.3 million.

Since the district's budget was approved in May, middle school parents through the athletic booster club have held a series of fundraisers, ranging from pizza nights to a 5K race.

The money raised rescued fall sports, including football and girls tennis, and the early and late winter programs, including basketball and wrestling. The district contributed $50,000 and the For the Kids Foundation chipped in $10,000.

On deck is a raffle with a $10,000 top prize and a clothing drive. So far, the parents have raised more than $13,000 for spring sports, which include boys and girls lacrosse, boys tennis, baseball, softball and track.

Nicholas' mother, Jessica, an East Islip alumna who learned how to play volleyball in middle school, has been active in the fundraising efforts.

"I feel so strongly about the sports program, and it's so good for children to be active and involved," she said, noting that more than 200 students participate in spring sports.

"I am going to fight for it," Jessica Carney said.

The fundraising effort in East Islip echoes a similar drive in Seaford, where parents have hosted parties, held bake sales and solicited donations from more than 320 local businesses to save middle school sports.

Parents involved in Save Seaford Sports presented a check for $28,000 to the district Thursday to save the second half of winter sports. Now they're looking to raise another $70,000 by April to save the spring season.

"I grew up in Seaford. I felt it is important our kids get what every other kid has had before them," said Annmarie Lynch, co-president of Save Seaford Sports.