School athletics programs threatened by the statewide budget crisis will be saved in part by a new partnership between the Sacramento City Unified School District and the Sacramento River Cats that will raise money for the financially strapped programs.

The new partnership will be launched with an on-field pre-game ceremony on Wednesday, June 1 at Raley Field (prior to the start of the team’s 12:05 game against the Salt Lake Bees). The school district and the River Cats will announce they are teaming up to provide resources to district sports programs.

“With this partnership, the District will be able to ensure that these programs will be intact for the 2011-12 school year,” said SCUSD Superintendent Jonathan Raymond. “While the Governor’s May Revise budget proposal provides us with some optimism regarding minimal cuts to K-12 education, there is still a great deal of uncertainty.”

The program will be focused on a comprehensive, community-wide fundraising effort and the two organizations will work collaboratively to engage other partners in the program.

”We are thrilled to assist the Sacramento City Unified School District with this very worthwhile program,” said River Cats President, GM, and COO Alan Ledford. “We consider the River Cats to be a community asset, and this opportunity to partner to support sports programs within SCUSD is consistent with our objectives.”

In March, school district trustees approved a “worst-case” scenario budget for the district that included the elimination of funding support for extra-curricular activities such as sports, yearbook, drama and marching band. The announcement of this partnership indicates a commitment to the families of Sacramento City Unified School District to find a solution that does not include cuts to these programs.

At the Thursday, June 2 SCUSD Board of Education meeting (6:30 p.m.), the Board will consider adopting a revised budget for 2011-12 that includes the reinstatement of these programs. This vote will come on the heels of the announcement of the partnership with the River Cats.

Following the pre-game ceremony on Wednesday, Superintendent Raymond will throw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch.

Should the state budget situation improve and the district receive “flat-funding” for the 2011-12 school year, as projected by some analysts, resources generated through fundraising efforts would be used to supplement and enhance district sports programs.