Somers Boosters formed to help district
The Somers Lakeside Boosters formed a couple of weeks ago to help support the Somers Middle School and Lakeside Elementary School district and facilitate fundraising efforts as the district face additional budget cuts.
The district’s budget will not be finalized until August, but some of the potential programs to be cut include fifth-grade band, fifth-grade girl’s and boy’s basketball, football, and other extra curriculars.
“It is a valuable age for kids to get passionate and excited,” Laura O’Connor, director of the Somers Lakeside Boosters and owner of Freedom Business Solutions, said. “Sometimes by high school and eighth-grade they are too set in their patterns to try new things. It gives them the opportunity to feel out the things they like and want to focus on, and we don’t want to see these programs go for the kids.”
O’Connor’s son, Dalton, was in fifth-grade band and played football while at SMS. He will be playing football for Flathead High School this fall and O’Connor credits this to Dalton’s experiences as a student at SMS. She also said they chose to enroll their son in the district because of all the opportunities it offers.
Teachers, parents, and even students have voiced their concerns at previous school board meetings about cutting programs. O’Connor said this is was what sparked the formation of the boosters.
“Watching my son be passionate about it kept me motivated even though he is going into Flathead (High School) next year,” O’Connor said. “He found something he is passionate about and I don’t want to see other kids miss that opportunity.”
The group currently consists of Lisa Perrin, Beth Fortenberry-Kornick and O’Connor. They are currently seeking more members and would like to elect a board of directors once their numbers grow.
Raising funds for schools can be a confusing process, so this is where O’Connor’s work at Freedom Business Solutions comes into play. The boosters are also working on getting information about how the district’s finances are run so they can make educated decisions on how they will support the district.
“We are a middle person to help people that are passionate and want to help kids find the sources they need to do that because it can be kind of a confusing process,” O’Connor said. “A lot of parents are coming to the boosters hoping we have answers and we don’t so we end up in the facilitator role where we try to find out.”
O’Connor also said that their goal is essentially to be a resource for the school district and the board.
The boosters are currently in the process of obtaining 501-C3 status and would like to create a set-up similar to school board trustee Sam Bagley’s Somers Music and Arts Fund. As of last week that fund has raised $1,800.
The boosters also hope to coordinate with any groups or functions that benefit children in the area.
Right now they are working with Randy Gilpin and other people involved with the SMS football program to have a fundraising barbeque on July 28 for the football program.
Later this summer the boosters will compete in the dragon boat races at Flathead Lake Lodge to raise funds as well.
To make a donation to the Somers Lakeside Boosters, send a check to PO Box 252, Somers, MT, 59932. For more information or to get involved visit somers boosters.org and go to the “contact us” section or call 261-6933.