HORSESHOE BEND -- Two school levies failed last spring in Horseshoe Bend.
"We knew that we'd have to make drastic cuts. Those cuts have included, you know, we've lost two and half teaching positions, we've lost two teacher aid positions, all administrative and certified teachers have taken pay cuts. We've furloughed two days this year to meet the bottom line," said Superintendent Vickie Renfro.
Renfro said the district is still coming up short. To cut costs, they cut the buses for players to and from games.
"I was just baffled. I grew up here and played here, so I didn't know what to think when they said we weren't going to have buses, especially going to Riggins and Council and stuff. Some of those far trips it's just not safe," said head football coach Jesse Goff.
Players will have to get a ride from parents or drive themselves.
Stan Rau's son is the quarterback.
"I don't mind driving him to sporting events. My fear is that since there are no guidelines, kids will be driving themselves to places like Salmon River, which is three and a half hours away up through the mountains," said Rau.
Rau worries about kids having to drive places like Riggins, Council, and Cambridge.
"Every weekend we have life flight coming in to highway 55," Rau said. "If we add our team to that and you add kids to that road, I think the possibilities are almost positive that somebody's going to have an accident going up there."
The issue with buses is just one part of the problem. If they can't pass a future levy or raise funds, there could be more cuts in more areas.
"Are we worried about being able to sustain? Yes," said Renfro.
Horseshoe Bend is turning outside their small community.
"This community is a part of the greater Boise Valley and that's where they do their business, and so in that way we're connected. And so I guess we're reaching out because we do feel connected," she said.
They hope other parents will feel compelled to help.
"I think everybody that has children can think about making sure that their safety is provided. Because it'll take one accident and we won't be able to look back and do things different. We won't be able to forget," said Renfro.
The Horseshoe Bend Mustangs had their first football game Friday versus Notus. They got a few donations and did some yard work for a woman in town to help pay for a bus. They don't know what to do for the next game.
Folks say there could be more cuts if they can't pass future levies or raise money. One group of moms is raising money with a run.
Registration for Race to the Summit is open. It's a half marathon, 10k, 5k, and kids fun-run to benefit Horseshoe Bend schools. Organizers say half marathon compares to Race to Robie Creek, but you can walk the 5k. The event is organized by three stay-at-home moms who are avid runners.
"Having a small community, every penny counts. And so even with the race, every racer counts, everybody who signs up, every dime that they use toward the registration goes directly back into the schools," said Lillie Crawford, one of the organizers.
Crawford and her co-organizers will be at Shus' Idaho Running Company in downtown Boise Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you register at Shu's Saturday, they will wave the registration fee. Shu's is also giving $10 off any pair of shoes, if you register.
You can also register online.
