PRIEST RIVER, Idaho -- The West Bonner School District decided to cut sports and extra-curriculars for next year in a proposed budget that must be approved by the state in late June.
The district's $4.7 million levy failed May 16th, and the School Board decided it doesn't have the funding for sports and extra-curriculars if they want to keep priorities.
"Sports is my life basically," said soon-to-be middle schooler Alex Freeman.
Outside the meeting, many were showing their support for their favorite team, the Spartans, as they say sports are a part of who they are.
"It's sad to see them all go, if they end up leaving," said Trinity Meyers, who's going into high school.
Parent Hailey Scott said sports are the reason kids in the district stay in school.
"If we don't have sports, our kids don't have a lot of drive moving into going into school in the upper years. We can motivate them in as many ways as possible, but sports are hugely motivating as well as those other extra-curricular activities," she said.
The School Board prioritized keeping and hiring staff, having a budget transportation, food services, safety including their school resource officer, and facilities. Using one-time state funding, the board says they will still have to cut some teacher positions .
For student athlete Marley Burgess-Duquecet, the board's decision means one thing.
"I'd be moving to a different school," she said. It sucks because I've literally been going to this district since kindergarten."
Either the high schooler has to leave or lose her chance at an athletic scholarship.
"You'd move from a small school, where you get to play a lot of minutes. I've been on varsity for all my sports, all three years, and to move to a bigger school where there aren't that many spots, is a hard challenge to overcome," she said.
The School Board can decide to bring back a smaller levy for a vote in August. They would have to decide by July.
"We're willing to work with the school district, the board, to find different ways but we are here and we are not going to go away," Scott said.
