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Lake Zurich school board wants booster club transparency

A private booster organization's sale of prime seats at high school football games in new, expanded bleachers was fodder for Lake Zurich Unit District 95 board members Thursday night.

Lake Zurich Quarterback Club boosters have been selling 50-yard-line seats at varsity home football games for $15 as a fundraiser. The club typically has sold 350 to 400 tickets per game.

Although board members agreed the Quarterback Club should be allowed to continue the reserved “blue seat” program, they agreed a specific policy is needed requiring all school booster organizations to provide annual financial information to District 95 in an effort to create more transparency and accountability.

Board member Doug Goldberg said while he appreciates the private volunteer groups that support athletics and other extracurricular activities, officials should have details about revenue and expenses.

“I have no intention of preventing an organization from fundraising,” Goldberg said.

Quarterback Club President Chris Dyer said the blue seats provide significant income. He said not only does the club help the football team, but it also has provided financial support to the band and helped to pay for a Lake Zurich High School weight room.

Dyer said the club spent $9,000 to install a new sound system at Mel Eide Field in 2012. He asked the school board to let the Quarterback Club continue handling the blue seats in the revamped stadium in 2015.

“I really think that the blue-seat money that we do bring into the program benefits the whole community, not just the football program,” Dyer said.

New bleachers with an expanded seating capacity and other work are part of an overall $2.4 million package of improvements at the football stadium complex.

Last week, Lake Zurich village board members approved the project that's expected to be ready for the 2015-16 academic year. District 95 officials said the construction should start this summer.

Under the plan, the new home-side bleachers will accommodate 2,500 spectators at Mel Eide Field. That'll more than double the current limit of 1,200.

Officials said it's not known how many seats will be allotted to the Quarterback Club.

With the increase in stadium capacity, the west-side stands where home fans sit will rise 46 feet. Seating capacity will remain at 600 for visiting fans on the field's east side.

In addition to the bleachers, the $2.4 million project will feature new storage units under the seats, a new press box, and replacement of security fencing and a sidewalk. There also will be regrading of the girls varsity softball diamond to get rid of a left-field hill in the complex that dates to the 1970s.

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