Eisenhower Students Could Pay to Play

Interscholastic sports at Eisenhower Middle School could be spared the budget ax under a policy approved Monday night by the Board of Education.

The board unanimously affirmed a policy that would allow it to charge students to help subsidize sports at the middle school, which had been proposed for elimination under the 2010-11 school budget.

However, the policy merely allows the board to take up a fee schedule in the future and doesn't impose one.

The policy change "gives us leeway to do that in the future," board President Anthony Robert Francin said.

The school board hasn't yet decided if a fee system should be adopted, but would have to act at its August meeting to preserve sports for the next school year.

"We don't want sports to disappear," Francin said.

The interscholastic program was a casualty of the $33.3 million 2010-11 school budget, whose tax levy was reduced by the Township Committee after being defeated at the polls. The program, which had been estimated to cost approximately $30,000 annually, was eliminated after the board learned it would lose its entire formula aid package under Gov. Chris Christie's cost-cutting.

At the time, former board President Daniel Moynihan described the program as merely "wounded," as the board always expected to be able to restore sports in some way. Pay-to-play has always been an option, although the board has talked of working with the township's Department of Parks & Recreation to help absorb students who would be left without athletic activities if the interscholastic program was eliminated. 

Francin said those talks continue, but the "town's in the same position we're in... funds are tight."

As of this past school year, Eisenhower offered boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, track and cheerleading.

The Township Committee recommended restoring track after conducting its review of the defeated budget. Proponents, specifically Committeemen Brian Scanlan and David Connolly, felt the board should add that sport as there isn't an equivalent at the township level.

However, the school board (which only had to accept the committee's overall cut, not specific line-item suggestions) declined to restore track while cutting the rest of the programs, feeling that doing so would be prejudicial. Members also worried that sponsoring only track at Eisenhower would lead to a boost in enrollment, making the program even more expensive.

The policy resolution adopted by the board notes that "with reduced or limited revenue and increased expenses, the board must consider alternative revenue options to support these school-sponsored activities."

Should the board adopt a fee system, the "specific activities and fee amounts will be recommended by the Superintendent of Schools and approved by the Board on an annual basis prior to the commencement of the registration or sign-up process for the activity."

Fees wouldn't necessarily be uniform for all sports, as the policy states that charges would be decided based on "coach/adviser salaries; equipment costs; facility rental fee costs; official/referee costs; event registration fees; and other expenses incurred by the district."

Students would see the fees refunded if the sport isn't offered after the pupil has already signed up for it; if they're cut from a team; or if the student is determined to be ineligible for the activity prior to its beginning. However, interim Superintendent Richard Kuder would have the authority to refund the activity fee for other reasons due to "extenuating circumstances."

Additionally, families with difficulty paying the fee could be excused, based on state standards that govern free and reduced lunches.

The board's next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Board of Education office, 241 Morse Ave.