Saugus votes to lower athletic fees

SAUGUS – After much deliberation over the most equitable way to spend the $30,000 to reduce athletic user fees, the Athletic Subcommittee came up with a recommendation that could help athletes of all sports and seasons.The committee approved Athletic Director Robert O?Leary?s suggestion to use the $30,000 appropriated at the November Special Town Meeting to lower the upcoming spring athletic user fees from $375 to $340. By O?Leary?s approximate sign-up numbers, that would leave about $20,000 to be put into a “revolving account” to be applied to user fees for the 2014-2015 school year.The committee will share its recommendation tonight with the School Committee, who will make the final decision.O?Leary said since most athletes will be returning to their sports to play again next year, “That would affect everybody who played sports this year and it will do something positive for the spring.”O?Leary said he has spent “umpteen hours” with numbers trying to find the best way to apply the $30,000. “This is the best equitable way,” he said. “Everybody saves money.”The final decision satisfied committee member Arthur Grabowski and others who were originally concerned that using the money for only the spring athletes would upset parents of fall and winter athletes.Some suggested that the senior class athletes who were not playing a spring sport should receive a $35 credit, since they would not benefit from the discount, but the committee ultimately agreed with Saugus High School Principal Michael Hashem, who said, “My only problem with crediting seniors is that means you are charging a different amount for playing the same sport at the same time.”