Athletic Director Joe Doulet presented a line‑by‑line review of athletic operating costs, variable season expenses and revenue, and facility needs, telling the School Committee rising officials’ fees, bus charges and equipment replacement are driving up program costs.

Doulet walked members through per‑sport cost estimates and income from user fees. He highlighted that a small number of unpaid user fees can add several thousand dollars to the district’s net cost; fall and winter outstanding fees numbered in the low dozens and the district has sent letters and planned follow ups before escalating collection.

Officials’ fees and bus runs were the single largest recurring variable costs across many sports. Doulet said a single away‑game bus run can cost several hundred dollars and that postseason travel increases invoices substantially; he also described wide monthly variability caused by vendor groupings that change routing and per‑run prices.

The presentation flagged several one‑time equipment costs — new football helmets and protective “guardian caps,” a replacement scoreboard clock system and a new stage soundboard for events. Doulet described a recent $11,000 replacement of high‑jump pits and said track high‑cost resurfacing would be an even larger capital expense.

Committee members pressed Doulet about the stadium track, which several parents had complained about. Doulet said an outside vendor told the district repairs would be expensive and that an engineering issue — aging asphalt beneath the track surface and drainage problems — likely means a full replacement would be required. Town engineers and a track vendor will inspect the surface in early June; Doulet said a full replacement was on a multi‑year capital plan but that the vendor estimated replacement costs could reach the mid six‑figures.

Members also debated equity in coach stipends. Several members noted that stipends vary widely across sports and that some programs (notably cheer and some girls’ teams) appear to have far less coaching compensation relative to risk and training requirements. Committee members asked Doulet to benchmark stipend levels against neighboring districts and conference peers and to return with that data.

Doulet reviewed co‑op arrangements (Marblehead for gymnastics and wrestling; Peabody and Saugus for boys ice hockey) and explained co‑op billing structures: some co‑op partners assess a per‑participant share of total program costs rather than charging Swampscott’s local user‑fee rate.

Ending: The School Committee asked administration to gather comparative stipend data, report back on the June inspection of the track and refine user‑fee collection procedures and hardship waiver outreach before the next budget cycle.