Youth Programs Will Have to Reimburse District

By a 5-3 vote Monday evening, the school board's human resources committee voted to recommend that the Bethlehem Area School District's facilities policy be amended to require all youth programs using school facilities to pay the cost of any expenses incurred on their behalf.

Currently, the district-based youth athletic programs pay only half the cost of hiring additional staff for their events. All other groups, except for district-sponsored activities, already reimburse the district for the full amount. The youth athletic programs will be the only groups affected by the change.

The charges would only apply when personnel are required for groups using district facilities that are not normally scheduled, and the programs will only be charged the actual cost to the district, officials said.

School director Loretta Leeson estimated the policy change will save the district $22,000 per year.

“They will still have use of our facilities for free when a custodian is present,” Leeson said.

Opposing the move, director Rosario Amato said it was “disgraceful that teams might have to pay the district back.”

“These are our facilities, and these are our kids,” he said.

Board president Michele Cann and vice-president William Burkhardt also disagreed with requiring the sports programs to reimburse the district.

Cann said the move would cut in to training opportunities for potential future high school athletes, and that it would be inconsistent with the board's aim of supporting extracurricular activities.

Other members didn't see a conflict.

Irene Follweiler said it was unfair that some groups have been reimbursing the district for the full amount while other have been charged half.

“I believe we have to eliminate this, and put the money back in the general fund,” she said.

The school board is expected to make a final approval of the policy change at their next general meeting, Monday, April 18 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Freedom High School.