Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Mayor Bruce Rogers 401-440-5182

July 16, 2012

Rogers Supports Project 106 Efforts to Save Middle School Sports

Mayor Bruce Rogers is advocating for the funding for this year's fall Middle School Sports Programs to be placed back in the budget. He is also requesting for the Budget Commission to include the funding in next year's budget. Going forward with savings and cuts, the Council should look at any and all options to continue to fund the programs, utilizing savings and in conjunction with any private funding support through groups such as Project 106.

Project 106 is a grass-roots movement consisting of members of the community who believe in Middle School Sports Programs for our children. The organization’s members have started a foundation and are rallying everyone in the community to get behind the program to help our City insure sports programs for both our Middle Schools for years to come.

The cost to reinstate the Middle School Sports programs for the last two months of FY12 (September and October) is in the range of $33,000 at this time. The Budget Commission is actively in negotiations with our Teacher’s Union to see if this cost can be brought down. With their help and some creative work on the part of the District’s Athletic’s Director, this is a real possibility. People are doing everything in their power to reverse this situation so that our children can participate in interscholastic sports.

"The vast majority of people I have spoken with are in favor of the Middle School Sports programs and much testimony has been given by students, parents, coaches and teachers. They stated that the physical, mental, educational and social skills gained by sports programs, positively affected their development for life," continued Mayor Rogers, "I am in complete agreement with these facts. We need to find a way to reach a common ground between the cost of equipment and stipends versus private funding and municipal support."

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