Elimination of Freshmen Sports Program Considered in East Haven

Originally written by Jack Kramer, Correspondent

EAST HAVEN, CT – One of the proposals being considered to save money in next year’s school budget is the elimination of the freshmen sports program.

Also under consideration is a plan to either eliminate the athletic director position or combine it with another administrative position – again to save the school system funding.

The proposed cuts to the sports budget were discussed – but no action was taken – at a Board of Education meeting last week. (To sign up for East Haven breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

The problem with the $47.9 million school budget, according to Board of Education Vice-Chairman Ronald DeNuzzo, is “78 percent of our costs are fixed.”

DeNuzzo said what he meant by “fixed” is the salaries and benefit packages that the school board is obligated to pay the seven different bargaining and personnel contracts of employees that work for the school system.

That leaves the Board of Education scrambling, DeNuzzo said, to try and find areas where it can reduce other costs.

Having said that, DeNuzzo, who has a long history of athletic participation in the town of East Haven, was emphatic when asked his position on eliminating freshmen sports or the athletic director’s position.

“I will not approve any budget that eliminates athletics or gets rid of the athletic director position,” DeNuzzo said. “You can quote me on that.”

DeNuzzo said there will be additional discussion on the sports programs and other potential savings cuts at upcoming school board meetings – before any final decisions are made.

(Editor's Note: This story first ran previously but here it is again in case you missed it.)