School Committee Member shirking fiducuary responsibility

Why is Chris Roberts defending Mount St. Charles' tax exempt status when Woonsocket should be exploring every opportunity to increase the tax rate?

Here's a school that has tax exempt status, owns 22 acres in the city and charges Woonsocket for ice time yet pays nothing back to use the city's ball fields for baseball and other sports.

The school charges $10,000/year for tuition and uses city services. The non-profit status they enjoy comes from the city but that non-profit status is supposed to be for educational buildings. How does an ice rink qualify as a non-profit when they charge schools and other groups (Over 35 hockey leagues etc.) for its use?

For Mr. Roberts to be an apologist for the school shows he is more interested in protecting his alma mater's interests than in doing what's right for the city's students. The school committee and city council should research the tax codes, and amend them accordingly. If nothing else, charge all out of district students using the rink a fee and have a portion of that transferred to the city.

Having the person who received the most votes for school committee acting as an obstructionist when the school department is so deep in debt makes no sense at all and maybe the voters should explore what it takes to recall such an elected official.