Avonworth may look to the junior class or create a “super-booster” group to operate the concession stand at football games.

Parents from both the band and cheerleading booster groups were present at the school board's regular meeting on June 8 to discuss who should be running the concession stand.

The concession stand has been run by the football booster groups in the past. They recently gave up the concession due to a lack of volunteers, according to board president David Oberdick. The boosters have denied that they lacked volunteers, and cited disagreements with t he districts and loss of profits. (See Letters to the Editor, Page 6.)

The administration came up with the idea to have Avonworth’s food service department take over the stand next year, with possible proceeds being used to reduce cost of school lunches. Board member Brenda Barlek said that the money also could be used to buy new cafeteria equipment.

Director of fiscal management Brad Waters said that he wanted to make it clear that the food service department did not pursue the concession, but rather he went to them with it.

Oberdick read a statement at the meeting concerning the stand. He said that when he first joined the board, there were issues between the football, band and cheerleading booster groups. Oberdick said that he sat down with representatives of the groups and worked out what he believed to be an agreement, which led to the creation of the "Cheer Cafe," where the cheerleading and band boosters were allowed to sell dessert items. After the cafe, Oberdick said, there still was friction between the boosters, which he felt was an “embarrassment to the district.”

Oberdick said that the administration felt that there would be problems with the concession stand no matter which volunteer group was running it, and that the recommendation was made in an effort to have some continuity in the operation.

A lack of volunteers among the other booster groups also concerned the administration, according to Oberdick. He said that the cheerleading boosters had admitted they were having a hard time filling officer positions.

Cheerleading booster president Francine Schmid admitted that the cheerleading boosters would not be able to run the concession stand by themselves, but said that they have worked well with the band boosters in the past.

Board member Jeff Schmid said that the real issue was why the administration made the recommendation for the food service department to take over the stand rather than first offering it to the other booster organizations.

Oberdick said that if the booster groups would be able to find a way to create one "super-booster" organization that would encompass all of the Avonworth groups, he would be "all for it."

Both Francine Schmid and Cynthia Ransom, who is president of the band boosters, said that they are interested in forming such a group.

Parent Vicki Lawniczak suggested that the stand be turned over to the junior class, with any profits helping to pay for various expenses. The junior class ran the concession many years ago, and Jeff Schmid suggested at an earlier meeting that they be allowed to do so again.

That idea also was supported by board member Marybeth Sommers. Sommers said that she was not convinced that the food service taking over the stand was the best solution.

Board member Peter McKay said that he was not sure if the board should step in on the issue because it could lead to people coming to the board every time they want an issue reversed. McKay said he felt that the recommendation from the administration was reasonable, and if that if there were problems a year from now, the issue should be looked at again.

"Right now the administration has made a decision and I don't seen anything wrong with it," McKay said.

Board member Lynn Evans McGrath, however, said that people are supposed to come to the board when they have problems with something happening in the district.

Jeff Schmid made a motion for the junior class to run the stand, and it was seconded by Sommers. Barlek said that she could not vote for the motion without a representative from the junior class present to see if they are even interested in the opportunity.

The motion was withdrawn. Superintendent Dr. Valerie McDonald said that the administration would look into the option of letting the junior class run the stand and come back in July with either a revised option, or rationale for the current recommendation.

McDonald said that administrators will look at the options over and over again to make sure that they make the right decision, and promised the parents that the administration will find the right solution.

Board member Patrick Stewart was absent.