Teacher Fights Budget Cuts, Pays Out of Pocket for Program

Intermediate School 318, in Brooklyn, New York, is a middle school where more than 65-percent of students are from homes where families are living below the federal poverty level. It also happens, against all odds, to have the best junior high school chess team in the country (41 national titles). But a recent series of crippling budget cuts now threaten the entire program that helped turn a once-failing school into one of the best, a journey featured in the documentary "Brooklyn Castle."

In light of the downturn, school Assistant Principal and chess team organizer John Galvin is even reaching into his own pockets, according to New York Daily News. Subsidizing the team's hotel and airfare for a recent national competition landed Galvin an $8,000 credit card bill. Students are also pitching in to cover the $60,000 in costs, turning to old-fashioned methods like chocolate sales.

The $100,000 program was once paid for by school funds, prior to budget cuts, and the school competed in 28 national championships. "The premise of the team is that if you work hard and you study, you can be the intellectual equal of any kid in the U.S.," Galvin told New York Daily News. "It doesn't matter how much money you have or what language you speak - no one has an advantage when you sit across the board."

Unfortunately, the kids are no longer getting the same number of opportunities to sit across that board, says Galvin. But they still have upcoming championships in San Diego, and many more competitions to come if they can pull together the funding. The chess teams of Columbia and Harvard have already committed to play against the children in the program, as well, and they would be taken onto the campuses of both universities and given private tours.

"While the goal is to raise awareness and funds it will also inspire the kids to dream," says Neal Flaherty, one of the forces behind "Brooklyn Castle," which aims to tell the story of inspirational program. "Right now we are a quarter of the way there in reaching our fund-raising goal of $20,000. Something I find pretty unique is if you donate $75 you will be included in the film credits. And a portion of the money will also be to help the kids travel to the different schools."

Another way to help 318 remain in the game is by donating to the school's chess team via their website.