Townie Coaches May Lose 60% of Stipend

Budget Commission wants cuts

In another cost cutting action by the city budget commission, interscholastic coaches at East Providence schools are being slated for a 60% cut in their coaching stipends. Publicly coaches throughout the city are not yet ready for comment but privately many are not happy. Some coaches have begun to meet and discuss this possibility and there is talk of not accepting these cuts quietly.

At this point it seems that coaches want to take a wait and see approach as the budget commission has acknowledged that these cuts may have to be a negotiated item. The teachers currently do not have a contract and the union has filed an unfair labor practice with the state.

A couple of coaches have expressed frustration that the community "isn't aware of what is actually going on here." "None of us is a coach exclusively for the pay. Anyone who has ever coached sports knows what kind of time it takes and how much work is done," said a number of coaches not ready to be quoted yet. "We want to be professional and see how this develops. In the end, we will have to take a stand in the best interest of coaching and for what we do."

There is also a move from some city officials to cut freshman sports (middle school sports has already been eliminated) and some team sports. High school hockey was on the chopping block but a recent state championship may have slowed the appetite to eliminate the program.