Eastbayri.com

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence School Department will not be funding middle school athletics this fall and it’s still unknown whether there will be cuts to spring sports slated to begin in a few weeks.

The decision to cut funding for middle school sports was made by the East Providence Budget Commission by consensus Thursday afternoon Feb. 16. The move came less than 48 hours after the East Providence School Committee voted 3-1 against the proposal Tuesday night, Feb. 14.

Already, however, community activists are working to try and make sure middle school sports don’t miss a beat. By last weekend, planning was underway on a number of community meetings to address the situation.

Donnie Senna is a lifelong East Providence resident and a parent. He is also a volunteer coach with the Martin Middle School wrestling team. Following Thursday’s decision, Mr. Senna said he began communicating with local parents through social networking services. Based on the sentiments expressed in these conversations, Mr. Senna initially scheduled a meeting regarding the issue to be held in his martial arts studio.

The expected turnout, however, started to grow a bit larger than Mr. Senna first anticipated. Looking for a change of venue, Mr. Senna reached out to owners of the Comedy Connection, on Warren Avenue, where he occasionally DJs.

The site is set to host a community meeting on the topic Wednesday, Feb. 22. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

One well-known local individual who was expected to be on hand was Kevin Robinson, often referred to as “K-Rob.” The city’s own BMX star founded the K-Rob Foundation several years ago to keep youths involved with sports.

Mr. Robinson said he has been working with Mr. Senna and others planning both this week’s meeting as well as a public meeting of the K-Rob Foundation, which has been scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 29.

Mr. Senna and Mr. Robinson said they want the meetings to be productive and stressed the need for those involved to stay positive and ban together.

“I just hate seeing things keep getting taken away from the kids, especially at the middle school age. That’s when you’re trying to find your identity in life. It’s an awkward social time for kids at that age,” Mr. Robinson said.

“I don’t really think they’re getting the gist of how much it’s going to affect the entire city. Morale is already struggling ... This is just a huge blow. The most important thing is to keep a positive dialogue. No pointing fingers. We don’t have time for that.”

Cut recommended

The possibility of cutting funding for middle school sports was most recently raised as a recommendation in a management audit completed by B & E Consulting Inc., of Providence. The audit stated cutting the program’s funding could save about $90,000 though further analysis, revealed the program actually costs about $106,000.

Thomas Sweeney, of B & E Consulting, said there are other communities who have middle school sports that are funded through boosters clubs.

The school committee previously voted against enacting a B & E recommendation that called for reducing full-day kindergarten to half-day status. The budget commission subsequently decided to keep the program intact for the upcoming school year on a commitment from the school committee that cuts would be explored in other areas.

A full year of savings from the cut to middle school sports funding will be realized in fiscal year 2013, which begins on Nov. 1. The current fiscal year will pick-up a bit of savings from the move during the months of September and October and possibly, this spring.

The budget commission’s call on spring sports will have to be made soon. The school department currently has coaching vacancies that need to be filled should the decision be made to move forward with funding a spring program.

Meanwhile, an analysis of the high school athletic program remains on-going. School department finance director Mary King said she has been working with a budget commission official, school principal Janet Sheehan and high school athletic director Paul Amaral in exploring possible savings that could be realized through cuts or program alterations.

Ms. King said she expects to present a report on this analysis to the school committee at its next meeting, currently scheduled for March.

Current estimates being used by the budget commission indicate some reductions are on tap for high school athletics. The budget planning report used by the group to track the city’s finances through 2017 currently indicates a $180,000 interscholastic savings for fiscal year 2013.

For a report on the community meeting scheduled for this week and more on the upcoming K-Rob Foundation meeting, visit www.eastprovri.com.