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River City High showcases fall sports, band achievements; boosters warn of funding shortfall
Summary
River City High School officials and student leaders presented fall sports and marching band accomplishments; River City Regiment boosters said the marching program currently covers roughly $50,000 annually in costs and asked the district for greater support and equity for middle school band programs.
River City High School staff and student leaders presented highlights from the fall semester at the Jan. 23 Washington Unified School District meeting, and River City Regiment boosters requested more district support to sustain and expand visual and performing arts programs.
Assistant Principal Kristi Dornan introduced Athletic Director Richard Dami, who reported that River City currently lists more than 793 athletes across seasonal sports (figure cited for fall/winter sports only). Dami highlighted all-league recognitions in several sports and singled out water polo player Reagan Eisenberg, who was described by staff as a three-year varsity player, a league MVP, an Academic All-American from USA Water Polo and a national leader in goals scored for the season with a cited figure of 201 goals. Staff also said she maintains a 4.3 GPA.
Band Director Rudy Cisneros and student leaders Jonathan Wen and Robbie Uno described the River City Regiment's growth: the program reported 96 members this year, moved into the Western Band Association circuit for higher-level field competition, and logged 259 hours of rehearsal time cited in their presentation. Cisneros said River City's marching band is the only competitive field marching band in Yolo County.
At public comment, Brandy Dion, president of the River City Regiment Music Boosters, outlined the program's annual budget shortfall and fundraising challenges. She said boosters covered roughly $50,000 in annual expenses and provided a line-item breakdown cited to the board: about $10,000 for buses, $5,000 for competition fees, $6,000 for instructor support, $6,000 for music licensing and program design, $12,000 for uniforms and equipment maintenance, and about $10,000 for administration, insurance, storage and student recognition. Dion said typical fundraisers produced less revenue than expected this year and urged the district to increase support, especially to expand middle school band equity.
Board members thanked staff and students for the presentations and said they would discuss sustaining music and athletics programs across the district.
Why it matters: Athletics and VAPA programs are central to student engagement, but boosters warned that continued reliance on parent fundraising and intermittent revenue could make program sustainability difficult as participation grows.
