Sports Will Cost in Revere

Losing three levy requests this year has cost Revere Schools. Superintendent Randy Boroff told school board members Dec. 14 that cost means the district can no longer fund some of its sports programs. Students who want to play baseball, run track or participate in other athletics will have to pay $250 to join the team. Tryouts are free. Winter sports were not included because their seasons have already begun, Boroff said.

The charge was part of a resolution approved by board members that included other cost-cutting/money raising measures.

• Parents will pick up the tab for transportation to scheduled field trips and other events.
• The district won't lay off teachers, Boroff said, but four will take early retirement.  The exact amount of the savings was not given. According to the state, Revere teachers average $68,300 annually.

Board members said the cuts are necessary to contain costs, but some didn't like being handed a package they were not asked to help create.

Board member Joe Forcina said the superintendent and the administration made decisions without the approval of the board. "Things have happened that we didn't know about," Forcina said.  "We don't like to hear about things afterwards."

Boroff said more cuts are likely, including personnel, if a levy for new money doesn't pass in a special election in May.

Voters will also be asked to approve a 4.56-mill renewal levy in February. The group Citzens for Responsible School Administration previously opposed and lobbied hard for the defeat of that measure. The group recently switched gears to support the renewal levy  – as long as the district pledges not to spend the money on raising teacher or administrator salaries.

In other board matters, Boroff said the school had reached its maximum number of calamity days – absences permitted for things like bad weather. If school is canceled for snow or some other allowed emergency, Revere students will have to make up the time at the end of the year.