Since learning that varsity and junior varsity sports were being eliminated as a result of the recent budget failure, Plainedge residents have wasted no time forming committees, calling meetings, and staging rallies in a valiant effort to raise the funds needed to restore the cancelled programs.

Parents have received permission from District Superintendent Dr. John Richman to attempt to raise the funds, with the stipulation that they must raise the entire cost of the varsity and junior varsity programs, estimated at $548,000, so that no team will be excluded.

Parent Theresa Schaeffer, who is spearheading the effort together with John Hanrahan, repeatedly expressed the desire to work together with the district for the good of the students. To this end, she said, they have even hired a lawyer to ensure they stay within legal boundaries.

"The community has really come together over this," Schaeffer said. "We are appealing to every venue, from politicians to corporate businesses, to individuals. Kids are even going into their piggy banks to come up with funds." They will also appeal to school officials, Schaeffer said, to put back any extra funds that may be available.

"It doesn't matter if you voted for or against the budget," Schaeffer said. "The focus has to be on the kids."

Schaeffer's son, John, 17, was a junior and starting quarterback last fall for the varsity Plainedge Red Devils football team. "He and many others have much to lose."

Plainedge's school board voted June 27 to cancel interscholastic sports and other programs next year to cut spending while operating under an austerity budget. After hearing about the decision, over 60 parents met last week at Joe Pappalardo's Pizza Cove in N. Massapequa to plan ways to raise funds.

Committees, headed by parents, coaches and leaders of school athletic clubs, were quickly formed, and a second meeting for committee heads was held July 5. A third meeting was called for 6 p.m. at the high school, just prior to the 8 p.m. board meeting.

There are over 600 student athletes in the school. Of the 22 varsity teams, 17 are scholar athlete teams, in which the combined scholastic average of the players is a 90 or above.

"This is something we take pride in," said John Schaeffer, himself a scholar athlete. "I can't really imagine how the school will be run without a sports program. More than half the students play a sport. To lose this is disheartening."

If the community is unable to raise the funds, Schaeffer said he would consider transferring to a different school, forfeiting the opportunity to graduate with many of his childhood friends. He suspected others would do the same.

Rob Shaver, in his 10th year as head coach of Plainedge's football and wrestling teams, said he was "shocked" by the decision. "This has never been done anywhere in Nassau or Suffolk counties. It's terrible."

Dr. Richman did not return calls for comment.