Like many area districts, the most recent school budget process in Corning-Painted Post saw cuts to both jobs and programs. One particular loss was modified sports, but as our Bill Mich tells us, some determined community members have helped bring the program back to life.

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CORNING, N.Y. -- Modified sports in the Corning-Painted Post School District is a program that sees roughly 250 kids participate in each year. But in the upcoming 2012-2013 school year, the middle school program was to be cut because of budget concerns. However, some local parents just couldn't see the sports go.

"So they got a small group, it was a very small group, a very powerful group because they raised a lot of money in a short time. They didn't realize this until almost the end of the spring season so they only had a short time to raise this kind of money," said C-PP Athletic Director, Jamie Harter.

And by raising that money, parents have saved both fall and winter modified sport. But raising the over $17,500 needed was not an easy task. The fundraising had to be done completely outside of the district, so it really was all on the community to rally together to save these sports. And now that these sports are back, district officials are excited that a vital piece of a student's school experience will not be lost.

"This is their bonding, it's their real first bonding experience to the school. It's an opportunity to be a part of their school. Make that connection with their classmates, their teachers, their coaches. And usually kids who participate at this level will excel academically," said Harter.

But the work for those district parents isn't finished just yet. Fall and winter modified sports are safe, but spring sports were also cut from the budget, so fundraising is currently taking place to try and save them, as well.

"Once you get the ball rolling, kids expect, parents expect, families expect that the spring will go off like the fall and the winter. So I am pretty confident they will be also to raise the money. They've gotten this far, it would be hard for them to turn back now," Harter said,

That determination could end up saving a year's worth of sports programs that a few months ago weren't even scheduled to take place.