Preliminary Upper St. Clair budget slashes middle school sports: "Mr. O'Toole said there is about $25,000 left for middle school sports, meaning that most teams will no longer be able to travel to other schools. He said he will work with booster groups and coaches to determine which programs will be eliminated, scaled back or modified."Wow. Imagine this, a school board and administration working with its boosters. Sad news to need to curb much of the middle school sports program. But, great news in that they are doing so with a cooperative spirit.
Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh Public Schools, our booster organizations are, how do you say, "frail." And even if they are "robust," they are seldom put into a collaborative setting with school and district administration.
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full article:
Preliminary Upper St. Clair budget slashes middle school sports
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
By Janice Crompton, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Middle school sports won't be completely eliminated in Upper St. Clair schools, but they will be drastically scaled back next year as part of a preliminary $59.2 million spending plan approved by the school board Monday night.
The plan, approved by a 6-0 vote, also calls for a property tax hike of 0.33 mills, the elimination of three professional positions and one administrator, and furloughing three support staff members.
Superintendent Patrick O'Toole said his staff will determine which programs and positions to cut before next month's final budget approval, but no matter where the district slices, students will suffer, he said.
"There's no sugar-coating it," he told school directors. "These are very difficult cuts that will have a negative impact on our district."
During budget discussions last month, the board asked administrators to reduce as many expenses as possible so the district's two middle schools could continue with some sports programs.
Administrators identified about $825,000 in savings, including $438,000 in staff cuts, along with reduced technology spending, fewer field trips, and slashing $100,000 from existing middle school sports programs.
Mr. O'Toole said there is about $25,000 left for middle school sports, meaning that most teams will no longer be able to travel to other schools. He said he will work with booster groups and coaches to determine which programs will be eliminated, scaled back or modified.
The school board is expected to review the budget again at a June 13 meeting, with final approval expected at the June 27 school board meeting.
Directors Bruce Kerman, Louis Mafrice Jr., and Louis Piconi were absent.
Janice Crompton: jcrompton@post-gazette.com or 724-223-0156.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11144/1148727-100.stm#ixzz1NGlEbxAo
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