Editor-in-Chief

After the long and anticipated battle between the city of Cranston, the Cranston School Committee, and the citizens of Cranston, Superior Court Judge Daniel Procaccini ordered that sports and all other extracurricular activities will not be cut from the Cranston public schools. Lawyers for both sides agreed that sports and other activities are “essential” parts of school life and should not be eliminated.

The idea of cutting these activities resulted from the budget crisis that Cranston is currently dealing with. It all began when the school committee had contended that they needed $110.3 million to run the school year, however, the city council could not meet that sum.

Originally, the proposed budget from City Council for the 2003-2004 school year was $104.5 million, leaving a huge gap that needed to be compromised.

Through a series of meetings, the school committee was able to condense the gap to a $3.2 million difference, yet the committee refused to cut anymore, while the council was not willing to spend anymore.

The solution was to continue through the Caruolo Act. The Caruolo Act is Title 16 of state law that outlines a procedure for school committees to follow if they are unsatisfied with their budget allotments.

The school committee took the first two steps, petitioning to Peter McWalters, commissioner of the state commission on education, and formally asking the city council in writing to increase the appropriation for the schools, which both were denied. This led them to the third step: Superior Court, where it was decided sports and extracurricular activities would not be cut. However, Procaccini did not propose a solution yet as to how it all will be financed.

Stepping in, though, philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein is offering to help to help Cranston’s budget crisis as well as challenging its citizens. Feinstein announced on October 11 that he is collecting donations to help keep school sports and extracurricular activities, and for every donation of $25 or more made within the next 30 days, he will match, up to $250,000. To anticipate more donations, Feinstein said he will give donor a replica of the 1919 contract that sent Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees.

According to The Providence Journal, Feinstein had read about Cranston’s budget battle and decided to help out, since he is a long time Cranston resident.

“I figured that, since I live in Cranston, this hopefully will break the logjam and be good for the schools,” Feinstein said. “I do raise a lot of money for organizations such as Meals on Wheels and the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, so I’m willing to do it for Cranston.”

An estimated $530,000 is needed for after-school sports and activities and Feinstein said that all the money raised will go to those programs.

Students, parents, and citizens are pleased with the Superior Court outcome, considering the shock they went through. Many of which took the time to attend recent school committee meeting to voice their opinions. Students even went as far as to express their feelings through a planned walk-out, protesting in front of the Cranston public school buildings and a walk-thru at a school committee meeting.

However, besides extracurricular activities and sports, the School Committee did slash the money for textbooks and classroom supplies, plus a reduction in bus transportation, and cut the number of teachers’ aides and library aides, and has left minimal funds to hire substitutes.

“Obviously we need money, so we’re always interested in sources of revenue,” Schools Supt. Catherine M. Ciarlo told The Providence Journal. “My concern is that people not forget that the serious cuts affecting education beyond sports and extracurricular activities still remain out there.”

According to Ciarlo, even though sports and extracurricular activities are an integral part of a student’s education, the more serious cuts, such as textbooks and supplies, substitute teachers and transportation, are still on the cutting board.

The next court hearing is scheduled for October 30.

September/October

West Wind