Cape: 'Extreme Makeover' should pay its own way

A planned pep rally at Cape High to raise money for "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will give Cape Henlopen school district great exposure. On that, most people agree.

But school board members aren't happy about network giant ABC asking the district to foot an estimated $5,000 tab to taxi workers to and from the undisclosed construction site.

"We were told we were going to do this; we didn't offer it," said board member Roni Posner, referring to the pep rally and concert Cape Henlopen High School will host.

Paying transportation costs for a wealthy network that earns millions in advertising revenue in addition to owning the moneymaking Disney chain doesn't sit right with her either.

"I would be opposed to taking money out of operating funds for this … We just don't have it," she said.

Indeed, Director of Business Operations Oliver Gumbs said the money would have to come out of operating expenses. There are no other accounts to draw from for this, he said.

With the district already facing hard choices to pay for this year's existing operating expenses, others on the school board agreed $5,000 is too much.

"All of this in a time when there's a financial crunch," said board member Sandi Minard. "This is a public school, and it's taxpayer money, and that has to be our focus."

The popular television show "Extreme Makeover" typically holds a pep rally to kick off its projects; when program representatives asked the district to host the rally in the high school gym, followed by a $30-per-ticket concert in the auditorium, Superintendent Kevin Carson said yes.

But when the show came back and asked the district to provide buses pro bono in order to transport volunteer workers to the construction site, Carson said he figured the expense would cost at least $5,000.

The district owns several buses; Carson said gas, driver salaries and liability expenses are part of the final cost.

"We're looking to provide the buses, if we can cover the expense," Carson said.

This, however, is in addition to expenses the district already will incur through custodial staff salaries, electricity and other costs related to providing the facility for the pep rally.

Any extra expense is too much, said board member Andy Lewis.

"This is not something within the purview of the school district," he said. "It might get us some good will, but $5,000 … could be 10 [education] grants."

Only board member Spencer Brittingham said the $5,000 estimate would be worth it.

"We shouldn't put a number on an event that will publicize us positively," he said. "If it costs us five grand, it's just going to cost us five grand."

Logistically, the district has had to consider crowd control and will depend on Delaware State Police to help manage a crowd that could be anywhere from 500 to 5,000 people. The gymnasium holds only 2,200 people, and of that, high school Principal Brian Donahue said Cape cheerleaders, football players and a drum line will be in attendance.

"I think the Cape community is well represented," he said.

According to the district's facility fee schedule, it costs $300 for three hours to rent the gym, and $750 to use the theater for three hours. Additional time runs $100 and $150 per hour, respectively.

As for the sticky subject of who will pay for the bus transportation no vote was taken. School board President Sara Wilkinson said it's something ABC should pay for.

"Our solution is to turn this back to Dr. Carson … and they can pick up the cost of the buses," she said.