Stevens’ season in doubt

By rbrown
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Updated: August 26, 2025

Stevens High School may not be able to complete its 2025 football season because of the school district’s financial situation, according to Stevens head coach Josh Duford.

Duford said all high school sports funding for the 2025 season will be cut from the budget as the Claremont School District begins to tackle a multimillion-dollar deficit. The announcement regarding the elimination of that funding was made during Monday’s school board meeting.

SAU 6 school board chair Heather Whitney said last week that the deficit is between $1 million and $5 million.

“They’re cutting extra-curriculars, which at the high school level is about $300,000 to $350,000 for the entire year,” Duford said. “That includes band and drama. The extra-curricular budget is bigger than that, but they’re going what they call ‘bare bones.’

“Right now they’re going to run operations as the fall season continues to roll along until we’re out of money.”

The school district is seeking sponsorships, and fundraising efforts are being organized in an attempt to save sports and the other extra-curricular activities.

Duford said he was told all donations that benefit extra-curriculars will go to a fund that will be overseen by a committee that includes Stevens High School athletic director Doug Beaupre.

“Money is needed for essential fall sports operations and as crazy as it sounds that doesn’t even include transportation,” Duford said. “For us it’s things like officials, chain gang, the scoreboard operator. There’s a lot of little things, but they do add up.

“Without any donations my guess is we would not have enough money to finish the season. I know we have enough to start the season, but probably not enough to finish it.”

The Stevens football program, which competes in Division III, is scheduled to begin its season Sept. 5 at Fall Mountain. The Cardinals are scheduled to play eight regular-season games, four of which are at home.

“I’m really optimistic that we’re going to get sponsorships,” Duford said. “I feel blessed that we’re in the fall season because we will get the initial sponsorships, but you obviously hope that the winter and the fall seasons get taken care of, too.

“It might be a unique season, but a unique season is better than no season. We just don’t want these kids to suffer for the mistakes adults at the SAU made.”

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Anyone wishing to help fund the school’s extra-curriculars can contact Duford at coachduford@sau6.org.