By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

FAIRFIELD - There will be fall activities in the Fairfield schools.

Just one day after voters defeated an operating levy, a community group presented the Fairfield Board of Education a $250,250 check to pay for fall sports, cheerleading and marching band.

"From the bottom of our hearts ... thank you very much. There will be smiles on our children's faces,'' said Anne Crone, board president.

The money is enough to keep the program intact, although some teams have been combined or reduced because not enough students signed up and paid fees.

Altogether, 268 high school students signed up for fall sports and 198 signed up for marching band, said Tim Crowe, a volunteer with Promoting Activities for a Complete Education.

Twelve of those will receive grants of 40 to 80 percent, based on their family's income, Crowe said.

At the middle school, 87 students signed up for athletics, down from the 165 the group had anticipated, Crowe said.

That means the district will need only 40 coaches, compared to 56 it employed a year ago.

The numbers the group used were based on a 30 percent drop in participation from a year ago, based on other district's experiences once they imposed fees, Crowe said.