Cerritos : ABC Board Finds a Way to Restore After-School Sports

Eight months after the ABC Unified School District board of trustees axed after-school competitive sports and cheerleading programs at its five junior high schools, board members have come up with a plan to restore the popular programs.

Board members voted 4 to 2 Tuesday to bring in several volunteers to fill two assistant coaching positions and a program coordinator position previously staffed by paid employees. The district also will use city Recreation Department referees instead of CIF referees to cut costs.

Board members estimated they will save about $50,000 using volunteers and city referees.

The board had voted in February to eliminate the junior high after-school sports program in an effort to save the district $93,271 per school year. Complaints from parents and others prompted the board to reconsider the matter.