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Board discusses boosters’ proposed fundraiser; trustees ask legal review before allowing alcohol on campus
Summary
The superintendent outlined a boosters’ fundraising event that could include dinner, a speaker and limited alcohol service; trustees expressed concern about legal liability, equity for other groups, safety and supervision and asked administration to get legal advice and bring options back to a future meeting.
Administration described a fundraising proposal from the Sycamore Athletic Boosters for a one-night event (previously described on the agenda as a "stag" event) that could include dinner, a speaker and on-site alcohol service.
Superintendent Lewis said such events are common in other districts and emphasized that students would not be present; he urged the board to consider whether one-night permission to serve alcohol should be allowed in limited circumstances. Mr. Endress, a boosters representative who attended the meeting, was invited to speak on behalf of the group.
Board members expressed support for bringing more adults onto campus for community engagement and fundraising but raised several concerns: legal liability and the need for counsel review, equity if the board permits one booster group to serve alcohol while denying others, safety and supervision plans for larger campus events, and the administrative workload tied to special-event approvals.
Multiple trustees asked administration to consult legal counsel and return with options and recommended parameters (for example, whether events would only occur when school is not in session). The superintendent said he would remove the word "stag" from future agendas and bring legal guidance and recommended parameters to a future meeting before any approval.
