Written by By Rebecca Hyman
Tue Jul 21, 2009, 05:41 PM EDT
Bridgewater – Middle school sports have fallen victim to the Bridgewater-Raynham regional school district’s budget crisis.
The budget finalized by the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee on July 15 eliminates all district-sponsored middle school sports in both towns, school board member Gordon Luciano said.
“Some tough decisions had to be made. There’s a dramatic downside to the cuts,” Luciano said.
Last year, both middle schools offered basketball, soccer and baseball. All three have been eliminated.
The district charged students users’ fees, but they didn’t “come close to covering the cost” of the program, Luciano said. Expenses include transportation, equipment and stipends for coaches.
School Committee member Stephen M. Donohue said the district will save a total of $60,000 by eliminating the program in both towns.
Elaine Watson of Bridgewater, who coaches soccer at the middle school, asked if there is any possibility of allowing the program to continue if it could be self-funded through users’ fees and fundraising.
Middle school sports were eliminated in 2004 during a previous budget crisis, he said.
That time around, parents groups hosted fundraisers to keep the program afloat. The next year, the school district restored funding.
“The feedback is it was an overwhelming undertaking and beyond the capability of volunteers for more than a year,” Luciano said.
He said the district would still sign the contracts with coaches and be the official sponsor and would be on the line for the cost of the program if the fundraising efforts fell short.
