Dedication, hard work and cash - all could be required of Suffield Public School athletes next year.
According to a written statement from Suffield Board of Education Chair, Sue Mercik Davis, the Board of Finance proposed a budget $480,000 below expectations. Now, a “Pay to Play” proposal is one of several options being considered as an alternative to cutting teacher positions.
“I don’t think paying a fee is appropriate for playing high school Sports,” said Suffield resident Chip Dyer.
Yet, that could be the case. While some Suffield residents might be pushing back, not all disagree with the proposal.
“I don’t have a problem with paying fees for them to participate in sports,” said Umberto Santaniello, “The schools do a lot for our kids and if they need our help, I’m willing to do it.”
Mike Zolciak, whose son plays on the high school baseball team agrees, but wants to understand the proposal more clearly.
“I’d be OK with it,” he said, “but at the same time I would want to know why I’m paying for my son to play high school sports.”
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Ryan Anderson , Suffield’s Board of Finance chairman, says the Board of Education’s proposed budget for 2019-20 actually increased by 2.1 percent but was less than what was requested. If approved, A “Pay to Play” program, would require participation fees for athletics and other extracurricular activities.
“It doesn’t really bother me,” explained Diane Ferrari, whose two sons play multiple sports and is accustomed to paying up to $1,000 per year for hockey.
“We always had to pay to play because it’s such an expensive sport,” she said, “so to pay a little more to play baseball not really a big deal to me.”
Suffield held a public hearing Wednesday night, where the entire town budget was reviewed. The vote to finalize the Board of Education budget for next school year will take place May 8.
