Football at Russellville schools is a step closer with a recent school board commitment.
If the football boosters can raise $30,000 by July, the school's first football season will be fall 2017. That's the estimated cost to minimally equip two teams of 25 for junior varsity and middle school games.
If fundraising does not meet that goal in four months, boosters have until July 2017 to be added to the 2018 football season schedule, organizer Zach Hackett said.
After the board's November approval, the football boosters had difficulty securing a tax identification number. Last month, the school's long-established athletic boosters agreed to take in the football boosters and its fundraising under its nonprofit status, allowing for tax-deductible donations.
Donations toward the football starter fund will be earmarked and held in a dedicated account, Hackett said.
So far, two flag-football tournaments have raised about $3,000, and T-shirt pre-orders are being taken.
Volunteers are distributing informational pamphlets within the community, both for education about the future program and in the hopes of gaining donations.
"We're definitely getting the word out," Hackett said.
Future fundraising events are in planning stages, including a bowling night, pizza dinner, and a dinner and dance.
"We're just now really getting started," he said.
Parents of future football players have been a large part of the interest so far, Hackett said, but enthusiasm seems to be growing among alumni who did not have the opportunity to play football themselves.
For the time-being, elementary students may play on grade-specific teams of Russellville-only players in the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department flag football program. About 40 children played in fall 2015, and Hackett anticipates about 60 this fall, including girls.