Youth Programs Voice Concern to School Board Over Facility Usage Fees

A showdown between the borough's recreational programs and the school district seems imminent.

The Hopatcong Board of Education meeting lasted about a half-hour Monday night at the administration building. There was next to nothing on the agenda, and minor discussions flew by.

But Board of Recreation Chairman Dave Barnish added a wrinkle when he said during public discussion the town's youth programs want a meeting with the district to talk about the school's facility usage fees—a topic that's been simmering for months.

Superintendant Dr. Charles Maranzano told Barnish, who also runs the Hawks track and cross country programs, and the other recreation heads to attend a mid-September meeting, during which the district will outline is facility usage policy.

Barnish wasn't crazy about the idea.

"That's not what we want to do," he said. "This is more to be involved in setting the policies and looking at our voice as far as what charges are being put on our [recreational programs.]"

Maranzano, in his second year as superintendent, said the meeting would educate the borough's programs on the fees. He added that "after the meeting, if [the recreational programs] wish to meet again, the administration would be happy to have [them]."

Business Administrator Theresa Sierchio said the last facility usage meeting, which happened in 2008, went well.

"It seemed to be a great success," she said, "to quell any rumors or misinformation that might be out there, so I think it's important. In the past, we've always been open to meet with any organization that uses our fields. We're happy to sit and discuss it."

The school's facility usage fees have bothered borough recreational programs for at least the past 12 months. For years, the school district didn't charge programs for using its fields, classrooms, gyms, janitors or other resources.

But, recently, the schools have begun charging programs, saying the days of free usage are over due to the state's squeeze on education. New Jersey cut $1.7 million of aid to Hopatcong's district this year.

Hopatcong Warriors President Dan Titus said he doesn't mind paying facility usage fees if the schools can prove the programs cost the district money.

"If we're incurring a cost, we'll pay it," he said.

But the recreational programs want to see what they're being charged for. Barnish said he hasn't seen an established fee system.

That's the programs' main concern.

"It's the amount each organization is being charged and what you're being charged for," Barnish said. "We really don't have any defined rate. There's a policy, but there are no rates assigned to it."

Barnish said the Hawks track program was charged a $240 facility usage charge last year. They were charged $640 this summer, and without an explanation of the rate increase, Barnish said.

The Warriors were charged $1,000 last year, according to Titus. He said that rate has tripled for the fall.

Barnish reiterated the program's desire to meet with the district.

"I have the backing of most of the organizations in town, including football, track, soccer, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts," he said. "We would like to hold a meeting in the near future because a lot of us have questions, concerns."

A date hasn't been set for a facility usage meeting.