Pay-to-Play the Big Topic at Board of Education Meeting

If one point was driven home during the March 14 Board of Education meeting, it was the importance of voting on a budget that preserves what is valued in the school community.

The major topic of discussion between board members and the public was the Pay-to-Play program, a policy in which school sports require a participation fee per student. Questions raised included the topics of family caps, a long-term plan to phase out Pay-to-Play, other towns' participation fees and lowering the fees in Tolland.

Board members agreed with residents and were sympathetic toward their concerns over Pay-to-Play's "exorbitant" fees, however, now that they have to make cuts to the , Chairman Andy Powell said that their goal in the upcoming referendum is to maintain all of the programs and services outlined in the proposed budget. These include a fee change for middle school athletics to $225 and Junior Varsity and Varsity sports fees of $325 at the high school.

Powell stressed that voting against the budget as a protest against Pay-to-Play fees only causes more of an impact financially.

"It always lowers the BOE budget. Keep that in mind," said Powell, who explained that rejecting the would make the Pay-to-Play situation worse.

While it seemed that no one on the board, and no one in attendance, was particularly happy about the Pay-to-Play situation, board members, many of whom have or had children in the athletics programs, were able to illustrate why it has come down to these policies.

Of cuts, school board member Gayle Block said, "It's one of the only places to do this. It's kind of sad."

Vice Chairman Robert Pagoni added, "We've cut programs, classes, teachers, paraprofessionals... It's no different than running your household. If you don't have the money, you can't spend it."

Superintendent William Guzman also spoke of the loss of teaching positions, programs and co-curricular activities since fiscal year 2003-2004. A hand-out illustrated the significant decrease in teaching positions district-wide  and a staff reduction of net 25.56 FTEs (full-time equivalency).

Programs impacted by these reductions have included:

• 7.25 classroom teachers eliminated at the elementary schools 
• a decrease of 3.5 Art program positions at the elementary and middle schools
• a decrease of 3.6 Music program positions in the elementary and middle schools
•  an elimination of the World Language program in the elementary schools and decrease of 7.5 positions (the middle school program is funded through a federal grant)
•  a decrease of 1.4 Physical Education positions in the elementary and middle schools
• the elimination of Skills for Adolescence and 1 position at the middle school
• a decrease of one counselor at the middle school
•  a decrease of 5.88 English, Science, Social Studies, Special Education and Computer Science program positions at the high school

The report also showed 29 co-curricular activities which were fully funded in 2003-2004 that have been eliminated and are no longer offered at the intermediate, middle and high schools.

Despite these figures, Guzman said, "We're doing the best we can with the funding that we get. I hope the impact [of the budget] next year is no teachers lost."

During the public participation period, Tolland High School junior Dani Haliday addressed the BOE about Pay-to-Play, stating that the Town Council had sent her there. Prior to the public comment period, the BOE had instructed residents to address the Pay-to-Play issue with the Town Council.

"The Town Council sent us here, you're sending us there, I don't know what to do," Haliday said. In two day's time, Haliday had gathered 88 signatures from returning students asking for lower Pay-to-Play fees.

In Haliday's speech, she noted that Pay-to-Play fees have surpassed those at E.O. Smith and that many families with multiple kids in high school will have to pay a "ridiculous amount of money" for athletics. She noted one athlete in particular who has to drop out of two sports due to the fees, one of which she is captain. Haliday also voiced concern that at $325 to play, lacrosse may not get enough members to form a team. The same holds true for indoor track and girls basketball, she said.

Powell, Pagoni and others on the board seemed intrigued by Haliday's petition, and Pagoni asked her to get more signatures and to bring the petition to the next BOE meeting on March 27. The pair said they would take her petition to the Town Council.

"Get every kid, every mom, every dad... come back with 1,000 signatures," Pagoni said. "Get everyone to get up and speak."

The BOE and administrators encourage residents to attend the March 28 Public Hearing on the . The hearing takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the Tolland High School auditorium.