Saugus High principal advocates for lower sports user fees

SAUGUS – Athletic activities aren?t so separate from the classroom in terms of making a better student, but costly user fees are keeping many from the field, according to Saugus High School Principal Michael Hashem.During the presentation of the high school?s budget to the School Committee and Superintendent Michael Tempesta, Hashem said he views sports as “co-curricular” rather than extracurricular, and therefore he advocated that $30,000 from the district?s budget be put toward lowering the fees as a priority.?Allowing more student access to participate on the athletic field and pitting it up against the math or English classroom seems like a wish,” said Hashem. “But if it gets them to participate in the math classroom, it?s no longer a wish.”The $30,000 suggestion was first made by Town Meeting members when they amended the district?s supplemental budget article in the Special Town Meeting in November, complaining the user fees were too high.?If we don?t offer them something to do after school then we?re really letting them down,” said Hashem during his presentation Tuesday.School Committee member Arthur Grabowski said the Athletic Subcommittee hoped to meet sometime next week, with the subject of lowering the fees on their agenda.Hashem?s advocacy for lowering the fees fell in line with his goal to increase the graduation rate at the high school. He proposed that funds be included in the budget for a guidance or adjustment counselor to serve as a “dropout prevention staff” to target at-risk students before their issues turn into behavioral problems. The staff person would work with students returning from suspensions or transitioning from personal problems so they didn?t “fall through the cracks.”Hashem said in between taking care of special education students and bringing in more Advanced Placement courses, there wasn?t enough of a focus on students at risk for dropping out.?This is an area I?m concerned with that we don?t do well,” said Hashem.