Sports Program, Athletic Director Position Saved In East Haven

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

EAST HAVEN, CT – Not only has the freshmen sports program been saving from the budget chopping block, but so has the athletic director’s position.

Both the sports and athletic positions were on a list of possible cuts from the final 2017-2018 school budget as officials struggle to make ends meet.

But at the most recent Board of Education meeting, Dr. Portia Bonner said money had been found in the budget to not only restore the sports program but to return the athletic director position to a full-time position.

Previously the position was being discussed as being combined with another job with in the school system, go part-time, or be eliminated.

Parents and athletes had written letters and made pleas at recent board meetings to not cut either the sports program or the athletic director jobs.

Chairman Ronald DeNuzzo, who has a long history of athletic participation in the town of East Haven, was emphatic when asked his position on eliminating freshmen sports or the athletic director’s position.

“I will not approve any budget that eliminates athletics or gets rid of the athletic director position,” DeNuzzo said. “You can quote me on that.”

Other board members sided with DeNuzzo’s position, and the sports program was reinstated.