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Lacrosse pilot program gets OK from Stratford
RICHARD WEIZEL, Correspondent

STRATFORD — Lacrosse will be played at the town's two high schools for the first time this spring.

In a 5-to-2 vote, the Board of Education on Monday night approved a three-year pilot lacrosse program.

The board's vote allows an existing lacrosse league operated by parents at Sterling House Community Center to raise $22,000 to pay for one boys and one girls junior varsity team with players from both schools.

School Board Vice Chairman Eric Lazaro and Susan Youngquist, the board's secretary, voted against the proposal, citing the fiscal crisis in the school system.

"It's just not right to be adding a sports program when we just had our proposed budget this year cut by $2 million, and were forced to close Center School," Lazaro said.

But board member Robert David said "with all the cuts we've had to make, here we have a chance to add something that we don't even have to pay for. It would be sending the wrong message to turn this down."

A group of parents, who have formed the 14-member High School Lacrosse Committee, hope to raise enough money so both Stratford and Bunnell high schools can have at least one varsity boys and girls team each.

The teams are expected to compete in the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference.