District 95 fundraisers continue as deadline passes

Community members in Lake Zurich Unit District 95 are still fighting to raise enough money to save programs recommended to be cut from next year's budget, even though the June 1 deadline has passed.

"I don't think the board would turn down a dollar if it's turned in tomorrow," said Superintendent Brian Knutson.

He stressed that donations will be accepted as long as the administration has enough time to plan a tentative budget presentation to the board June 11.

Save Lake Zurich Music, a group working to save the fourth- and fifth-grade band and orchestra program, is not slowing down fundraising efforts despite the passed deadline.

"We have been told to continue any fundraising efforts we have," said Janet Barron, co-chair of the group. "The board will not be making any decisions until (June 11), the board wanted to know where we are at on (June 1)."

Barron said they are about $15,000 short of the $160,000 it would take to make up the funds the district would save by cutting fourth- and fifth-grade band and orchestra.

Save Lake Zurich Music has a skate night planned at Orbit Skate Center in Palatine, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on June 9. The group also continues to sell T-shirts and picture frames and is planning more fundraising nights at local restaurants.

"We fully intend to get the full ($160,000)," Barron said. "We didn't make it this far to not reach the goal."

Knutson said that while donations have come in from many different groups, the majority of them have been for the music programs.

The district is facing $4 million in recommended budget cuts.

The Lake Zurich Flames held a faculty football game Friday as a fundraiser for the general Kids Win! fund. Money contributed to the general fund will be divided between programs at the board's discretion.

Geoff Meyer, a board member for the Flames, said they do not have final numbers yet, but he estimates the event brought in between $20,000 and $25,000.

"The bottom line is whether we raised enough overall (as a community), not just one group," Meyer said.