DEERFIELD TWP. — Weary of asking taxpayers for more money, a Kings schools committee is looking for private dollars — millions of them — to renovate the high school's sports facilities.

        Generally schools get money by going to the voters through a school levy or bond issue. However, some schools are turning to foundations or fund-raising committees to raise money for projects they might not be able to float past the voters.

KINGS WISH LIST

The athletic facilities commission at Warren County's Kings Local school district wants to find private money for a three-part sports facilities project.     • Phase one: Eight-lane competition track, commons area with ticket booths, luxury press box, grandstand renovations, new baseball/softball practice field, and new athletic complex, concession areas, coaches' office, locker rooms, fitness area, weight room and training room.     • Phase two: Baseball stadium renovations, including new dugouts, multilevel press box with concession area and stadium lights; new soccer stadium.     • Phase three: Five new tennis courts; softball stadium renovations with new dugouts, press box addition and stadium lights.     Also being considered: a wellness and expanded sports medicine program that would be available to all students.

        And Kings, which has reached into voters' pockets several times over the past year for a bond issue and renewal of an operating levy, is trying a different approach.

        Unlike the foundations at suburban Cincinnati's Wyoming schools and Cincinnati Public's Walnut Hills High School that sought mostly alumni contributions and grants for their facilities projects, Kings is looking for corporate backing.

        Educationally, Kings is in great shape, says Superintendent David Query, and voters have approved money including the $23.5 million bond issue in May 1999 for two new elementaries and the renovation of a third.

        But to meet the needs of the sports facilities, Kings supporters are looking beyond the voters for help.

        The athletic facilities committee has been working for a year on the plan and wants to begin fund raising soon for the three-part project. The cost of phase one is estimated at $2.5 million, Mr. Query said.

        Kings' school board members said corporations may be willing to contribute because the project is good for the whole community.

        Committee members are considering opening up a multipurpose room in the new athletic complex for community dance, aerobics and other classes, Mr. Kircher said.

        And some board members said new facilities might draw more kids into athletics. “Every student in sports or band is one that's not on the streets,” school board member Del Landis said.
       

All about strategy
        Kings is still reviewing private financing options, but committee members say the corporate route is a good start.

        “We need a base from which to work,” Mr. Query said. “Corporate money would be pursued to a larger degree to get the project off the ground.”

        Corporate backing, though, has been difficult for some school foundations.

        The Walnut Hills High School Alumni Foundation sought support mostly from alumni rather than corporate donors to finance its $10 million arts and science center, said executive director Debbie Heldman.

        The foundation, founded in 1996, decided to pay for the project after Cincinnati voters defeated a 1993 levy, which included money for a new science wing at Walnut Hills.

        “Most public schools are not going to do well in the corporate community,” Ms. Heldman said. “Public schools generally are not on a list for acceptable giving.”

        Last year, the Wyoming School Foundation kicked off fund raising for its in-progress sports facilities renovations. It raised about $1.1 million, including pledges, through mostly private individual contributions, said Marcia Goldsmith, the foundation's executive director.

        “The problem is that most corporations will not give to a public school system,” Ms. Goldsmith said. “They don't want to show a preference.”

        Corporate donations have been hard to come by for the Wyoming School Foundation, especially since Wyoming has almost no commercial base, she said.

        That shouldn't stop Kings from trying, she said.

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