Participation decreases after fees are instated
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Shrewsbury - Oak Middle School has seen a 20 percent decrease in participation in its fall cross country team since fees were implemented this year.

According to Athletic Director Jay Costa, 150 students typically join the team every fall, but that number has dropped to 120 and could drop even more once fees are due.

In a presentation before the School Committee Sept. 19, Costa gave an overview of the entire sports program throughout the district.

He said despite the drop in middle school cross country participation, overall enrollment in sports programs was higher than last year, and attributed the increase in part to the reinstatement of the freshman football team. Funding for the team came from private donations raised by the Shrewsbury Athletic Boosters.

The Boosters raised more than $65,000 last year alone to help supplement school funding for athletics, which Costa said had dropped from $400,000 to just over $100,000 in four years.

"We compete in the highest level of play in Central Massachusetts," Costa said, "sometimes without the necessary resources, but our families continue to rise to the occasion."

Costa urged the committee members to increase sub-varsity programs, especially at the freshman level.

"Strong feeder programs are needed to create strong varsity programs," he said.

Not to say that the Shrewsbury Athletic Program is weak. Costa opened his presentation with the news that Shrewsbury High School had received the Charles Broderick/James Honen All Sports Cup for 2006-2007. The coveted award is given to the school with the best athletic record in the Midland Wachusett League A. The trophy had belonged to Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School last year and Wachusett Regional High School for the 15 years before that.

"We're not planning on returning it any time soon," Costa said.

The School Committee will receive a more detailed report about the impact of athletic fees at its next meeting Wednesday Oct. 3.