MEETING MATTERS
ASHBURNHAM WESTMINSTER REGIONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2007
Compiled by Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

Members of the golf team, which was not funded after the budget cuts and the athletic fees were voted upon, addressed the Regional School Committee to voice their displeasure.

Top Story:

Members of the Oakmont Golf Team appeared before the School Committee at their committee's Tuesday meeting to discuss, how the group could get it's varsity standing back.

Committee members told the group of about eight students and their parents that if the money to fund the sport is found somewhere other than the district's operating budget they would consider letting it run a varsity level sport. According to numbers provided by Athletic Director David LaRoche the sport costs $5,379 including transportation to matches and the coach's stipend.

"We are here to get a varsity team back," said Adam St. Jeans, a member of the golf team.

The golf team was one of the varsity teams that was eliminated due to budget cuts.

"That sport, as well as, a number of others were considered as cost prohibitive," said Superintendent Michael Zapantis.

The contract prohibits coaches from volunteering for varsity sport teams if the paid position is a stipend position. But Zapantis said he would check with MIAA about the rules they set of coaches and funding sports, in case donations or fundraising could be used to pay the stipend. Zapantis also said that he would check to determine liability issues with private transportation to see if the cost could be reduced.

Parents disagreed with the committee decision to reduce the number of sports and cap the fees at $100.

"I don't think anything is cost prohibitive when the kids want to play," David St. Jeans said. "These kids want to play. I hope you see the interest that is here."

School Committee member Leonard Beaton expressed concern about letting the students play the cost of the entire sport saying it would get into the high fees like the district had in the early 2000s, which is what the committee is trying to avoid.

The team will let an unlimited numbers of students practice but are limited to six players competing for scores in a match and two others playing as alternates.

In Other News:

• The School Committee approved the student handbooks for Overlook Middle and Oakmont Regional High schools handbooks. Both of the handbooks will be distributed to students and placed on the schools' Web sites, showing students and parents some significant changes.

Overlook Principal Brenda Houle said the middle school's handbook has changed in terms of the anti-bullying policy and other disciplinary measures. Houle said the new handbook is more inline with the high school's.

• Zapantis said the administrators would be reviewing the school district's critical incident plan with the Ashburnham and Westminster police and fire departments before school starts. He said the chiefs all have suggestions and after the plan is reviewed it will be brought to the school committee in executive session to preserve the safety procedures.