Board Considers Cuts to Band, Sports

The Board of Education is considering major cuts to sports and extracurricular activities and a higher participation fee for those it spares as it tries to shave $2 million from next year’s school budget.

“Realistically, it’s probably going to be a significant loss of programs and a fee going up to $300,” said Finance Committee Chairman Tony Perugini. Parents already pay a $100-per-student participation fee.

The committee has not specified which activities could be in jeopardy.

The board approved Superintendent Greg Florio’s $3 million budget increase last month, but Town Council Chairman Tim Slocum has indicated it is unlikely the town will fund the full $63.45 million request.

The committee is working on a ‘worst-case scenario’ budget in the event the requested funding is reduced dramatically.

“Looking at the worst-case scenario, we have to find $2 million,” Perugini said.

One option the committee considered was a full pay-to-play system, where parents are charged the actual cost of running the program. But Perugini said that was not realistic since some sports would cost as much as $1,400 per student.

“You’d essentially be pricing sports out of the district,” Perugini said.

The district spends about $965,000 on extracurricular activities but booster groups such as the Cheshire Band Parents Association contribute about $94,000 to offset costs, Perugini said.

Board members said cutting sports, clubs and extracurricular music programs such as marching band could save the district more than $850,000, while just raising the participation fee to $300 would only save about $250,000.

School board Chairman Gerry Brittingham said eliminating extracurricular activities altogether could save as many as 25 teachers.

“Worst-case scenario is not a $500 pay-to-play fee. Worst-case scenario is we get rid of all extracurriculars,” Brittingham said. “We can’t have 50 kids in a classroom.”

Perugini said the committee would meet weekly between now and April to examine areas for potential cuts. He said the next meeting would look at building capacity in the event of staff cuts and larger class sizes.

In other business at Thursday's school board meeting, the board extended a three-year contract for Director of Management Services Vincent Masciana, who was hired last year to oversee the district’s business operations.

In extending the contract to Jan. 18, 2014, the board approved a $3,000 match to Masciana’s Tax-Sheltered Annuity contribution, bringing his total compensation to $126,000, an increase of 2 percent.

Florio and board members praised Masciana’s performance, particularly during this winter’s heavy snowfall. Florio said he deserved a higher increase but thought 2 percent was reasonable in light of budget concerns.