Brookfield High School Students Sound Off on Budget

The Budget: Clubbing Clubs and Smashing Sports

By: Sophia Gomez, Kyle Kennedy, and Torilyn Wuensch

Brookfield High School is thousands of dollars in debt with little money to spare for extracurriculars, sports teams, and school supplies. In this recession, it is a struggle to maintain many valuable programs at BHS.

The new athletic director, Mr. DeRosa, says that sports need more money to function, especially football. Football brings in the most profits due to a huge fan-base and high game attendance. The love for football helps pay referees, game maintenance, equipment, uniforms, and a lot of transportation. Without the revenue football brings in, the program would be in financial trouble.

Other sports teams have been complaining that they do not get enough funding to buy needed equipment because of their lack of fans and low game attendance. Field Hockey teams and Soccer teams’ uniforms are up to 15 years old, and parents had to update the Girls Freshman Field Hockey uniforms out of their own pockets.

Players have to buy their own sticks and masks. Soccer teams are provided with soccer balls, shorts, and water jugs, yet the players point out that their shorts are old, ripped, and extremely small. Many other BHS teams are self-sufficient. Ice Hockey players, for example, have massive expenses and demands. Ninth grade Ice Hockey player, Kyle Sanborn, says necessary equipment costs from $5,000-$10,000 per person, a staggering and difficult cost.

Many clubs are facing the same dilemma as the underfunded teams. Most stay afloat with the help of the teacher advisors. Drama club is supported by production proceeds and Mr. LaMendola’s creative fundraising. HOSA, Student Council and DECA constantly depend on fundraisers as well. It is very challenging to try and come up with enough money to support all clubs.

“There is no specific school budget for The Creative Writing Club’s literary magazine as a publication,” says Ms. Nichols, whose club can only produce one magazine a year due to the high print costs. Others in the same position need to have tag-sales and sell fair concessions to stay alive. Even The Paw Print relies on ads and fundraisers, too, but with the economy so tight, closing ad sales becomes increasingly challenging for Journalism students.

In a district that is ranked 21st in the state and the 34th wealthiest in Connecticut, it’s a wonder how programs in other districts can operate with such a limited budget.