School athletic programs could take deep cut
Published on June 10th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - There may be fireworks Thursday night when the School Committee is expected to finalize discussion and make a vote to adopt the 1998-99 school year budget of $16.7 million. Part of the discussion is expected to be an explanation on which programs will have to be cut in order to reduce the budget from $17.4 million (an amount which would level-fund staff and programs for next year.).
One of the areas which is expected to be among the hardest hit is athletics.
According to Athletic Director Michael Lahiff, the current recommendations of Acting Superintendent Robert Barbarisi would reduce his budget by $95,000 in terms of what he had been seeking for the school year.
This money will have a large impact on both the high school and junior high school, he explained, and could have a lasting effect.
Of the $95,000, $25,000 is expected to be cut by doing away with all freshman sports programs.
This list includes baseball, softball, boys and girls basketball and boys soccer.
Lahiff said that this could have a lasting effect on the students.
"I think it's real devastating to the Athletic Department," he explained. "We would be the only school system in the Middlesex League to cut freshman sports."
Not only would this change impact players in terms of becoming better athletes, Lahiff said, it would also take away an afternoon activity for about 70 students who participate in freshman sports on an annual basis.
"That would be a real tough issue to deal with in terms of bringing students along," he said. "The whole issue comes up of what are the kids going to do when they get out at three o'clock. A lot of them aren't going to be able to play sports any more."
The same could be said for Middle School athletics which is also expected to be cut at a savings of $25,000 for the School Department.
Another $25,000 is expected to come from maintenance, a move which could prove devastating when coupled with the fact that several maintenance positions are also expected to end up on the cutting room floor.
Lahiff said that plans were in the works for upgrades to sprinkler systems and fences. Those now have to be put on hold.
"There's been a lot of criticism around the fields this year," he explained, "and this was one of those things to bring the fields up to par."
Not only will the fields go without upgrades, but it is also possible that Lahiff could have a problem getting the grass mowed due to the lack of maintenance staffing.
"I'm really concerned about the maintenance issue," he said. "If we get rain at one o'clock, we need to be able to call out a crew for a three o'clock game. We might not be able to do that.
"Right now there's no line item in my budget to try and fix things. We really need to take a look at a big plan to bring these fields up to par with the schools around us," Lahiff continued.
"This is a crisis situation in the School Department."
He explained that recent upgrades to the track and baseball field were a good start, but said that the project must continue to keep the fields safe and useable.
The remaining $20,000 is expected to be recovered by upping user fees in High School sports, Lahiff said.
The Athletic Department is attempting to dodge a very large bullet by applying for grants and finding other solutions in order to save the job of Annabelle Cashell, the Athletic Department secretary.
In the original list of recommended cuts, Cashell's position was among those to be cut. Lahiff said that it now appears as if her job is secure for the time being.
"She's done a tremendous job for us," he said. "I really rely on her quite a bit.
"She knows the ins and outs of this department and the school so, hopefully, we'll be able to put something together and get her back."
Overall, this has been a tough year for Lahiff and the rest of the School Department.
"A lot of people are really concerned," he said of the cuts. "We have a very good school system, but, unfortunately, we're going through a crisis situation and some things have to go.
"Hopefully it's only temporary."
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