GILROY
– The Crab Cioppino Feed and Dance always has been the biggest
fundraiser for Gilroy High School Athletics, raising an estimated
$15,000 per year for the general sports fund.
But this year, the 24th annual event, held at Christopher Ranch
May 8, means a whole lot more to student-athletes than any
other.
GILROY – The Crab Cioppino Feed and Dance always has been the biggest fundraiser for Gilroy High School Athletics, raising an estimated $15,000 per year for the general sports fund.
But this year, the 24th annual event, held at Christopher Ranch May 8, means a whole lot more to student-athletes than any other.
Districtwide budget cuts are expected to reach $2.5 million for next school term, and the athletic department must make up an expected $24,000 in cuts to high school sports. Although nothing is official yet, Athletic Director Jack Daley already is hard at work, trying to offset the proposed loss in funds.
“Nothing has been made official. It still hasn’t been approved by the board, yet,” Daley said. “Twenty-four thousand dollars is 24,000 dollars, and that will hurt us.”
The school board is expected to make its decision May 20.
“At this point, we have to assume the worst. Then if they choose not to do it, that’s better for us. Everyone’s taking hits all across the district,” Daley added. “They could be cutting stipends, which would be canceling specific sports.”
There are 22 different varsity sports offered at Gilroy High School, and Daley does not want to eliminate any of them.
“Obviously, we don’t want to see any go away, and we don’t think we’ll have to do that,” Daley said. “That means we’re going to have to work harder and come up with creative ways.”
The additional costs for the high school athletic department are: $30,000 per year for officials; $30,000 per year for transportation; $40 per team in league fees; $40 per team in CCS fees; and $1,000-$2,000 in State CIF fees. Furthermore, the athletic department must send in all helmets and shoulder pads for safety checks costing $6,000 per year, as well as paying for an ambulance to be on site during all football games.
The West Contra Costa School District is expected to eliminate all athletics for the next school term, prompting an highly publicized, organized march to the state capitol.
For GUSD, cuts are not nearly as drastic – estimated at 12 percent across the athletic department. The budget for athletics is $230,000 for next year to cover coaching salaries at the high school. But $24,000 in funds at the high school level and $6,000 in cuts at the middle school level used for additional costs could be shaved off.
“That’s what’s being proposed right now,” Daley said. “We’re trying to come up with some other options (to counter the cuts), but we haven’t sat down to discuss that, yet.”
The apparent cuts make the annual crab feast a must sell-out. As of Thursday though, only 700 tickets have sold and 500 remain. Although Daley said the ticket sales usually pick up as the event nears, the athletic department will miss out on $4,000 for every 100 tickets not sold.
“People of Gilroy have always been very supportive coming out to the Cioppino Feed,” Daley said. “Getting these events sold out is now more important than ever, especially if the proposal goes through.”
Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased at the athletic office on the Gilroy High campus Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or online with a Visa or Mastercard at www.gilroyhighschool.com.
“We really need to make it a success,” said Daley, who has assembled 120 volunteers to prepare and serve 3,000 pounds of crab for the Cioppino Feed & Dance that is put on by the GHS Athletic Association, an affiliate of the GUSD Educational Foundation.
Each individual sport has its own fund-raisers throughout the year. The second annual Jeff Garcia Golf Tournament at Eagle Ridge Golf Course once again will benefit the Gilroy High and Gavilan College football programs. Last season, the golf tournament raised $10,000 for each.
The Garlic Festival also is an annual fund-raising event for the softball and girls basketball teams, which run a garlic bread stand, as well as the wrestling and boys basketball teams, which pick up the trash.
In addition, the wrestling team hosts the Mid-Cal Invitational to raise funds while the basketball teams and the volleyball teams all host tournaments to help their individual sports budgets.
Daley said he does not want the school board to look like the bad guy because education cuts are statewide.
And, Daley said, the board has continued to approve needed projects like a new track and artificial grass field in Mustang Stadium. In addition, construction will begin in June and be completed in January for new bathrooms and athletic trainer office by the high school pool.
“They are not turning their back on athletics. In this tough time, everybody’s got to weather some of the burden,” Daley said. “There’s a lot of positive things happening. Nobody likes to get their stuff cut. We’ll see what the board does.”
Daley plans to speak before the school board in an upcoming meeting to lobby for the athletic department.
“I think right now we’re looking at a two-year plan. Maybe in the third year something happens and more money is available,” Daley said. “That’s one of the things the district has said. … But it’s always hard to get stuff back once you lose it.”
Cioppino Feed
What: 24th annual Cioppino Feed raising money for the Gilroy High School Athletic Association
When: 5:30 p.m. May 8
Where: Don Christopher Ranch, 305 Bloomfield Road
Tickets: $40 (ages 21 and up only), available at the GHS Athletic Office between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. or online at www.gilroyhighschool.com
Cioppino Facts:
3,000 pounds of crab are consumed at the event each year
120 volunteers take part
500 of the 1,200 available remain which could mean $20,000 more revenue for the school
The district is making $2.5 million in cuts, including $30,000 proposed cuts for athletics ($24,000 from GHS and $6,000 proposed to be cut from middle schools)
