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Date: 7/5/2023
WILBRAHAM — Participating in sports in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District will cost families a little more in the 2023-24 school year. The School Committee voted to approve an increased fee schedule at its June 26 meeting to combat a $34,000 deficit in the athletic revolving account.
Prior to the vote, athletic fees had not been raised in more than seven years. That, coupled with the lack of fundraising during the coronavirus pandemic, resulted in the deficit, which is subsidized by the district.
The original proposal at the June 15 meeting would have imposed a blanket increase of 10% for all sports. Instead, an examination of each sport yielded a scale of increases tied to the cost of that sport.
“The increases ranged from 5% to 15% for those sports showing a three-year average loss,” Hale told Reminder Publishing.
In fiscal year 2024, cross country running, indoor track, swimming, tennis and track will cost $180. Golf will be $200. Volleyball, soccer and lacrosse will vost $210. Baseball, basketball, cheerleading, field hockey, gymnastics and softball will cost $230. Wrestling will be $250 and football will be $275. The most expensive sports will be skiing at $330 and ice hockey at $520.
“The increase was not designed to eliminate the loss; we do not expect fees to zero out expenses, but the increase was designed to mitigate the losses,” Hale explained.
School Committee member Kiernan said that with the increases the athletic revolving account deficit would be reduced to approximately $22,500. He noted $20,000 of the remaining deficit would be attributed to the boys and girls ice hockey programs. He said $20,000, “is a lot of money that’s going to one sport instead of academics.” If that amount were spread over the number of ice hockey players, Kiernan said it would cost $873 per player, which he called “a darn good deal” in comparison to area private programs.
Hale countered that the increase was too steep in a single year, and he would likely request gradual increases over the next few years. “I totally agree with what you’re saying. I just think we have to do it over time,” he said. He noted parents tell him they feel the district should transport children to practice for the existing price, which he said is economically infeasible.
A representative from the Booster Club was scheduled to be at the meeting but did not attend. During the public comment period, four parents talked about raising money for sports, in one case more than $15,000, which went to the Booster Club. However, the sport was not run that season. The parents said they do not know what happened to the money and, “nobody knows how to get an answer.”
The fees associated with activities, graduation and parking were also increased. The parking fee will be $80 annually. Students who pay a $45 activity fee can join an unlimited number of clubs. The parking and activity fees can be paid either for half a year or for the whole year.
The graduation fee is $85. Hale said the graduation fees are used to pay for the rental of the hall, “which has gone up significantly since MGM took over,” as well as caps and gowns, placards and the items given out on awards night. He said students do not pay dues for activities but often do fundraisers.
School Committee member Sean Kennedy recalled that students had come before the School Committee to ask that they keep parking fees “under control.” He was the sole committee member to vote against the approval.
Railing project
Superintendent John Provost said that he had instructed personnel to move forward using the capital stabilization funds to replace railings on the second floor of Minnechaug Regional High School, before being informed that an official vote had not yet taken place. The railing has been cited as a safety issue for several years.
Kiernan commented,” I don’t think it’s a great use of our stabilization funding,” but added that it was the district’s “only avenue” for funding the project. He asked Provost to “exhaust” all other funding sources before using the capital stabilization funds. The funding was approved.
Exit surveys
Provost updated the committee on the results of the most recent exit surveys from personnel who left the district in fiscal year 2023. He said there were 50 separations, and about half were para educators, custodial staff and food service workers, the last of which comprised one-third of all separations for the year.
Of the personnel that left, 80% cited personal issues or unknown reasons for leaving. One employee left to take another job in education, Provost said.
“Most of the separation is coming from our low paid units,” said Provost.
One-third of the teachers who had left the district in FY23 were with the district for three years or fewer, another third was with the district for five years or fewer.
The exit surveys are anonymous and facilitated through Google. School Committee member Lisa Murray said that most teachers in the school district in which she works are hesitant to give feedback via Google due to concerns regarding anonymity. Provost said the administration was open to using a different platform in the future.