Lake County must place its children as a top priority.

In the current fiscal climate of pulling “triggers” and in the governor’s newly announced proposed budget, our schools are once again taking a deep financial cut.

The services provided to our students and the extracurricular activities that were once considered an essential part of a child’s education are being reduced or eliminated.

In the past two years, budget pressure has prompted more than three-quarters of California's school districts to reduce art and music; one-quarter of them have dropped the classes entirely.

This places an even greater burden on our community to raise the funds necessary to provide a full range of educational experiences for our kids.

Many of you are wondering what more you can do to help.

True security comes when these programs can fiscally support themselves. There is no better way to support our extracurricular and performing arts programs than attending their games and performances. Most of these programs rely on the entrance fees or concessions to purchase and replace equipment.

Spend your entertainment dollars on things that support our kids. Watching our children perform, either artistically or athletically, is really fun.

Who can resist a group of kindergarteners singing their hearts out? If you have not seen the show choir, concert band or jazz band of Lower Lake High School, you are truly missing something.

Our Lake County Children’s Orchestra is outstanding as exemplified when they played "Five Ukrainians in a Bell Tower," to the 5/4 swing style made famous by Brubeck’s “Take Five.”

The Konocti Basketball League has elementary school-aged kids playing exciting games every week. Many events have free entry; they fundraise through their concessions.

Often there is a delicious homemade treat to enjoy. You can splurge on less than $10 and be served with a smile by people who really appreciate your business and who may even greet you by name. This is one of the main reasons that many of us chose to live, work, and raise our kids here.

Lake County’s athletes are highly competitive and they are exciting to watch. Whatever game or tournament you choose to attend, you can always see athletics at a fine, amateur level. Those who really know the sport can easily see an offensive or defensive system being run.

You can watch wrestlers as they perfect their take downs and pinning combinations. If you do not know the sport, those around you will be more than willing to provide an explanation. In addition, the students get the energy that comes from a big crowd of supporters. It’s a win-win.

You could follow a local team all season for less money than it costs to be in the upper deck of a Kings or Warriors game and it won’t cost you $20 for parking or $4 for a bottle of water.

There has been no time in our history that we need your support more than right now. When there is a banquet, such as the Medieval Dinner for the Lower Lake High School Band in February, or a car wash to take students on a field trip, you can receive a service or experience while at the same time supporting our kids on many levels.

You do not need to have a child or relative participating to attend. These are our children from our community; they are wonderful and whatever you do will help.

Some would say that we need to support our kids because they are our future. I prefer to do so because they are our present. Their personal gifts are our gifts. Spend your entertainment dollars in the community.

For information regarding upcoming events, visit the school district Web site calendar. Konocti’s website is www.konoctiusd.org.

Our children appreciate your support and the opportunities it provides for their personal growth and development.

William R. MacDougall, Ed.D., is superintendent for the Konocti Unified School District.