Swampscott School Committee confronts $77,000 in unpaid athletic user fees

SWAMPSCOTT — September 8, 2014 — Swampscott School Committee approves Paris-Barcelona field trip and confronts more than $75,000 in unpaid athletic fees. The committee unanimously approved a student trip to Paris, Nice, Monaco, and Barcelona for April 2015, organized through ACIS by two high school language teachers identified as Ms. Gerold and Ms. Albert. Business official Dave Rafferty told the board that $51,875 in 2013-14 athletic user fees remained uncollected and an additional $27,750 to $29,750 was outstanding for fall 2014 sports, for a combined shortfall of roughly $77,000 to $81,000 — with no collection procedures previously in place. Starting with winter sports, students will not receive uniforms until fees are paid. Director of Curriculum and Instruction Lois Longin presented a new 64-page professional development handbook and a teacher-led project initiative covering more than 50 district projects, to be delivered through early-release days at no additional cost against the district's $147,000 professional development budget.