The Avonworth School District may be going into the concession stand business, much to the dismay of booster groups who want the fund-raising opportunity.

The concession stand at varsity football games has long been the domain of the football boosters, with other booster groups relegated to peripheral positions and sales items. According to Avonworth School Board president David Oberdick, however, the football boosters are giving up the concession due to a lack of volunteers.

Oberdick said that the administration has recommended that the district's food service take over operation of the stand, with proceeds going to reduce the cost of school lunches.

That's assuming that there are any proceeds. Board member Jeff Schmid pointed out at the board's June 1 work session that, unlike the booster groups with their donated time and goods, the food service department will have to pay for both personnel and food.

Representatives of two groups that have advocated sharing the concession stand with the football boosters asked the board why other groups were not being given the opportunity to run the concession. Band boosters president Cynthia Ransom and cheerleading boosters member Francine Schmid said their organizations want to take over the operation.

Oberdick said that there have been problems, including a lack of volunteers, that the administration is concerned will continue no matter what booster organization is running the stand.

Board member Eric Templin said that other school districts run their own concession stands. He said that the board was not trying to punish any certain group, just trying to put the money somewhere that it was needed.

Francine Schmid said that when a district operates the stand, it usually contributes to the booster groups.

The boosters were offered the opportunity to run the stand for junior varsity and middle school football games, which Oberdick admitted were not as pro-fitable as the Friday night varsity games.

At the vrequest of the board more information will be gathered on the cost of having the district take over the concession, and the board is expected to discuss the issue again at the regular board meeting on June 8.

Board member Lynn Evans McGrath was absent.