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The financial realities facing the spring sports programs at Milton High School, as well as the clubs and activities throughout the school system, have been well-documented in these pages. School officials have said about $50,000 would be needed to save spring sports, as well as an additional $30,000 for the clubs-and-activities budget. The Times, prior to the revelation about the latter shortfall, ran an editorial Dec. 11 urging support of the sports programs and suggesting a miracle might be needed to save them.
Students and parents, with the help of other concerned citizens, are doing all they can to make that miracle happen. On Jan. 31, a Walk-a-thon was held at Milton High’s Copeland Field House in support of the teams and clubs. The event can only be described as an overwhelming success. More than 270 students, along with coaches, administrators and parents, were on hand. The event – organized by parents including Laura Kessler, Karen Friedman-Hanna, Joan Clifford, Cynthia Winston, Don Jones and Kristan Bagley Jones – was designed to put the onus on students to raise money through pledges to help fund the school programs. And the students responded by collecting an estimated $32,000, or $2,000 more than the fund-raising goal that had been set.
The logic behind the goal had been simple enough. Organizers reasoned that if 300 students went out and managed to collect a total of $100 – 10 pledges of $10 apiece – their collective efforts would raise $30,000. It was a winning strategy.
One might be tempted to think that the solicitation of funds from outside sources sounds like nothing less than another bailout. But again, the students and parents are not responsible for the situation they’re facing. They’ve simply rolled up their sleeves to do their part. They deserve kudos for being proactive and trying to lighten the burden, as do all of the folks who opened up their wallets in an attempt to lend a hand.
The Walk-a-thon wasn’t the end of the effort. On Feb. 7, “Comedy for a Cause,” held at the Milton Hoosic Club, raised an additional $13,500. More fund-raisers will follow.
What’s heartening about these events is that they make it evident the adults in Milton clearly see the importance of the school programs that have been placed in jeopardy. Teenagers can learn so much from participation in sports: teamwork, camaraderie, perseverance and so many other values that ultimately will serve them well as they move on to face challenges in their careers and other aspects of their lives. Similarly, participating in theater groups and other clubs foster a kind of creativity that also comes in handy in your adult years. These are things the town’s parents obviously understand.
But the kids understand it, too. By their very presence at the Walk-a-thon, by showing such unity and overwhelming support for the cause, the students proved that not all of today’s teens are ruled by apathy. Rather, they showed the spirit voiced decades ago by the Beach Boys: “Be true to your school/Let your colors fly.”
“I think it is absolutely wonderful, to look at the number of students going by. They’re showing up in force today to make a statement,” Milton High Principal John Drottar told the Times’ Kathy Kurtz Ferrari during the walk.
Indeed they did, sir. And what a statement it was.

J. Michael Whalen
Editor