If students have to pay then I think they should expect to have excellent coaches and a top notch facility and top notch uniforms and equiptment. If students cant afford it then set up a scholarship program. But once you send a parent a bill they are going to expect results, and rightfully so.

This is not a statement on the School Committee' s budget. I know how thankless that job is and how many hours and hours they devcoted to it that they don't get paid for. But there are so, so many places that could be cut and no students or parents (the real stakeholders here.) Unfortunately, they have to listen to the department heads up in the administration building and take what they say almost verbatum. They could easily, and I mean EASILY drop a few peope in that office and a few custodians without anyone feeling the pain! I've dealt with the facilities manager before and he's great at baffling these people with b.s. Loves to throw pretty charts, and unfounded "facts" at you to try to justify his "crew." Stand back from all that for a minute, do your research, and then you can see THROUGH the b.s. Walk into the administration office and just LOOK at all the people there. We have some really good people like Carmela Geer who seems to work tirelessly for the kids but until this school system can find someone that is truly financially responsible we will remain at the status quo for "indirect" payroll and the only pain will be on the students and parents. Totally opposite of the real world.

for the life me, if all the other districts in RI can get by without fee, why in the world does Middletown NEED it?

Completely agree with Cheese Ball. As a parent with 3 kids actively involved in school supports, this bill just stinks! I am already paying for extra curricular activities outside school, there is no way that I could pay for activites in school and outside of school. Something would have to give. Do I tell my daughter she can't play piano because I have to pay for her to play softball? My taxes are astronomically high. Where is my money going?

In a PUBLIC SCHOOL system the education & participation of students should not be based on ability to pay. School Committees act as if cutting classes & activities were the only way to balance the budget. Cooperating with other school districts to consolidate purchases should be considered before jumping into the easy fix of picking the pockets of residents who are already paying school taxes.

This idea of forcing students to pay for sports is ridiculous and makes Middletown a laughing stock. Who thinks of such ideas? Obviously, this idea originated and was passed by the Middletown School Committee. Senator DiPalma should have not have put it forth in the Senate. Sports is part of the curriculum, just like history, science, etc. Maybe we should charge a fee for every course a child takes in school?

And guess who put the bill in on the House side? That's right! The queen of useless and horrible legislation - Linda Finn!

http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText13/HouseText13/H5138.pdf

With this dynamic duo, how could Middletown possibly not move forward?!?!

I'm very disappointed with Lou but sadly am not surprised about Linda.

I have liked Lou and the job he's done. However, I think he should have taken a step back and thought about the fact that his daughter is on the School Commitee. Very, very close to a conflict of interest.

I see the Girls' Basketball Team has made the state finals and is playing in the championship game at URI. GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. (I wonder if this was anticipated or budgeted. The School Committee will probably be there cheering them on. (That is of course unless they ask the parents to pay for the bus to get the team to the game)

Yes, see my post above. There are so many places to cut costs without effecting the students and/or teachers. This isn't creative at all, I find it insulting and lazy. What happens to the poor kid(s) that cannot afford to "pay to play?!"

sosa baby

DaShawn Jones should be the only one to pay