To the editor and the Lynnfield community:
The Lynnfield School Committee and Superintendent Kristen Vogel have recently implemented a new policy to charge for public school gym use and classroom use. They are charging residents $150 per hour for use of the gyms and are also charging Girl Scout Troops $30 per child annually for the troops to use empty classroom space to hold their meetings.
We’ve played pick-up men’s basketball for 15-plus years at the schools and the only requirement was to obtain liability insurance. If the School Committee would like to charge private coaches/teams from out of town for use of the gyms that would be reasonable, but to charge residents/taxpayers this fee is poor policy and unreasonable.
For us to play basketball on Wednesday nights throughout this school year would amount to over $7,000. Residents should not be charged for gym/classroom use, particularly the age group of residents who are currently donating to all the school fundraisers/events and recently voted for the tax override to expand the two elementary schools.
We have talked to dozens of residents the past few weeks and have yet to find anyone who is in favor of this policy.
Emails to the School Committee and superintendent from various members of our group have either gone unanswered or have taken seven-plus days to get a response. This is unacceptable from a public board.
We ask that you please email/contact School Committee Chair Rich Sjoberg, Superintendent Vogel, and the rest of the School Committee to let them know this policy is unacceptable and needs to be reconsidered to make an exception for Lynnfield residents. Their contact information can be found on the town of Lynnfield website.
Sincerely,
Jim Crawford
Jared Polanksy
Adam Polanksy
Steve Schedin
Lynnfield
