Purple & Gold, the support group for San Juan Island School District athletics, is sponsoring a fund-raising event to pay for the Friday Harbor High School fall sports program.

A barbecued dinner, dance, live music and auction are scheduled May 2, 5 p.m., at Beaverton Valley Business Park.

A total of $45,000 is needed to fund the fall sports program. The school district will discontinue funding the sports program in order to meet a potential $1.1 million shortfall in school funding over the next two years.

The cost for dinner is $20 for adults and $10 for students. Islanders can help the cause by purchasing tickets, and/or donating items or services for the auction. A monetary donation may be written to Purple & Gold, P.O. Box 3124, Friday Harbor 98250.

Island Rec is considering placing on the November ballot a property tax levy to fund school sports this November. the levy would be about 4 or 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation. It is proposed as a school district bond levy of 40 to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation ends.

If the levy is approved by voters, money will be made available starting April 2010. The levy would be a six-year fix for funding the high school sports program. But funding is needed to pay for fall sports to bridge the $45,000 gap in funding.

Island Rec may contract with the school district to fund the sports program — which includes 14 athletic teams and cheerleading — for public, private and home school students. The school district would continue to operate the program.

For more information, contact Purple & Gold President Elisa Howard at 378-2540, or e-mail nhoward@centurytel.net.