Somonauk start-up a good idea

Updated: May 16, 2011 3:28PM

There is a potentially historic school board meeting happening Monday night in Somonauk, as the seven-member board will decide if it will allow the community and its youth football program — the Somonauk Nighthawks — to fund a freshman football team for the 2011 season.

The board has been fair to the Nighthawks, allowing for discovery and the organization to get its financial house in order to present a strong social and financial case as to why they should allow a school program to be funded privately.

That has been done, and now it’s up for a vote.

There are concerns, of course. The cash-strapped district is cutting teachers and programs. A strong soccer base is concerned it will lose what little athletes it has. And, more importantly, are the Nighthawks and community willing to fund this endeavor as long as it needs to?

Members of the Nighthawks board say yes they can, and they will. To help their cause, though, they are encouraging the board to open up the football program to surrounding schools like Newark, Indian Creek and Hinckley-Big Rock to form a co-op and ease the financial burden on Somonauk residents.

The Nighthawks say their youth program draws from those communities anyway, so it’s a natural fit.

As for soccer, there are plenty of students who aren’t quite cut out for that sport, or have no desire to play it. Those athletes can fill a Class 1A football roster. And, if the football team needs a strong kicking game, the IHSA allows kids to play both sports.

These are all issues that will be debated Monday night, but I hope in the end, the school will allow the program to start up.

Members of the community — and perhaps board members themselves — will cite the financial difficulties the district is facing as the primary reason to not allow it. But that’s the exact reason why they should. In a depressed economy, why not allow for an activity that will give students something, rather than take something else away? And, since the taxpayers are not on the hook for any costs, the games will be a revenue generator for the school.

The IHSA does not require any long-term contracts for play either, so if after one season — or two, three or four — the program isn’t self sustaining or the district can’t take over its operation, it can dissipate without penalty.

Count me as a supporter of the movement — I’ll always get behind parents and boosters who are willing to reach into their pockets to give their student-athletes a chance to do something they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.

Here’s hoping the school board sees it the same way.

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