Travel basketball is now $500???? The girls have reduced their schedule from 48 to 16 games and the cost went up. Did the coaches get a raise? Did the gym fees in Melrose increase? We are already paying increases for services in this city why do we need a tax increase?
Yes, very odd that these extra curricular activities (city and school) are obviously costing parents much more than actual expenses. But then again, don't you think the mayor and the superintendent should have a slush fund just in case any unanticipated expenses should come up? Like through-the-roof legal expenses for high priced attorneys to defend our troubled school administrators from Federal Civil Rights charges? Or "pots of money" to quietly pay these same misbehaving administrators bonuses deep in the middle of the summer when no one is paying attention? [:-?]
$500 is RIDICULOUS. It's also $385 for boys 6th grade middle school basketball which DOES NOT include "team supplies" (whatever the hell that is) OR uniforms!!?? Uniforms are an additional $50!! When asked for an exact breakdown of where that insane amount of money is going to we were told by the rec dept. it's basically to refs and gym fees. GYM FEES?? WE OWN THE GYMS!!! So they call it "middle school" basketball, where only middle schoolers can try out BUT it's technically run through the rec dept which is why they can charge parents to rent gyms ALREADY AVAILABLE TO US. I have sons who have played on highly competitive AAU teams that cost HALF of this AND included a uniform. ABSOLUTE BULL ****.
Edited to add that the rec dept also said that the coach (which is a players parent) does not get paid. When my older son played middle school bball the coaches were paid, so either they changed that or it's a lie.
Expect more of the same gouging of taxpayers for extracurricular activities, rec and sports fees in the near future. Dolan and company will use this as an "I told you so" for not passing the ridiculous override. The music and arts programs, as well, will also take the hit as retribution for disobeying the Mayor for life. But some how there will always be enough money for the school committee to approve the pot of money for raises and bonuses for the underperforming superintendent and administrative staff. And there will always be enough money to hire attorneys to defend the school administration for civil rights violations and lawsuits and to attack complainants and those who ask too many questions like Carrie Kourkoumelis. This one is on you, suckers.[:|]