As school budgets continue to shrink statewide, extracurricular activities like sports may find themselves increasingly fighting to avoid extinction. Recent court rulings have reiterated that parents cannot be charged for their children’s participation in public schools’ activities, creating further obstacles for the “extras” like athletic programs that keep many kids in school. At Point Loma High School (PLHS), a small army of volunteers has turned out to do what taxpayer money cannot. Leading the charge is Kathleen McKaveney, owner of a local design firm with expertise in decoration material usage. The parent of graduated football and track star Sean McKaveney (class of 2011) and soccer standout Caelle McKaveney (class of 2013) also has a second son, Cade, who has several years to wait before high school. Kathleen and Sean coordinated a complete renovation of the once-decrepit football locker room two years ago, so when PLHS athletic director John Murphy dreamed of a first-ever team room for girls’ field hockey, softball and soccer, he knew where to start. Meanwhile, John and Kathleen Enright — whose son, Dan, was approaching his senior season on the Pointer basketball team — wanted to rehabilitate the long-stagnating team room in Lee Trepanier Gym. Now, several months later, Dan Enright and his teammates prepare for games and interact with coaches in a room creatively transformed by Kathleen McKaveney and the Enrights.  Many people also helped by donating or buying materials, noted the parents.  The Enrights purchased new lighting, a flat-screen TV and other supplies. Crusty old lockers were cleaned and repainted before being repositioned to allow better room access and usage. New laminate wood-look flooring for the room was purchased on Craigslist and the walls were skim-coated before being painted. Unhappy with the first floor installation, McKaveney decided to pull it up and re-do it. “The reality is if nobody does (these projects), their children may not get to play sports,” McKaveney said. On the opposite side of the PLHS campus, Murphy saw one end of the girls’ gym as a possible site for a team room for three Pointer teams that had never had such a luxury. Kathleen McKaveney took a look at the space and signed on for her third Pointer project. It turned out to require all of her energy for three weeks with an assist from son Sean. “Sean spent his entire winter break (from Claremont McKenna College) working with me, even urging me on when I was sore and exhausted,” said Kathleen McKaveney. “He lifted 12-foot drywall sections into place and we had them all up in three hours.” Kathleen McKaveney praised soccer team mom Lisa Laube for her help throughout the project, along with flooring expert Tommy Bell, whose son graduated in 2010, for donating a floor-grinding machine and operator to smooth the uneven floor.  The finished team room in the girls’ gym has new flooring, lockers that have been removed, cleaned, painted and bolted to the gym wall, newly painted walls with silhouettes of athletes in action, vertical maroon and gold wall fabrics and some pretty special couches. Built by Kathleen McKaveney’s design staff, the couches are covered in a deep maroon leather-like fabric with the word “Pointers” embroidered in bright gold thread on the back rests. At a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony, Lady Pointer athletes were immediately drawn to the new furniture pieces. “None of this would have been possible without the others who were involved,” said Kathleen McKaveney. “Nobody said ‘no’ to our requests.”  She urged others to join the effort. “You may not know how you can help, but get involved and find out,” said Kathleen McKaveney. She had high words of praise for Murphy, who came to school every day during winter break — including Christmas Eve — to unlock the gym in the morning and lock up again in the evening. “I don’t think people know how instrumental and critical he is as a liaison between the community and the school. He’s the perfect guy for the athletic director job,” said Kathleen McKaveney. “I think I’m addicted to these projects. It’s so gratifying.” VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN Barry Choy: lumber donation, construction and locker installation. Tommy Bell (Bell Tile): floor grinding and preparation Kathleen and Sean McKaveney: design, construction and artwork Parent Johnny Maes (Frazee Paint): paint donation Andy Meyers (Vista Paint): paint donation Lisa Laube and student Ryan DaRosa (class of 2012): locker removal Pacific Drapery: custom sofas and banners Shan Breneman (Keystone Fabrics): sofa fabric donation Cecilio Riucros (T-Shirt Mart): sofa embroidery John McKaveney: carpet donation North Park Trophy: name-plate engraving — Compiled by staff