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East Windsor Board tables co-op sports policy after members seek sport-by-sport budget and transportation data
Summary
The East Windsor Board of Education delayed action on proposed policy 5136, which would set participation fees and transportation rules for cooperative high-school sports, after board members said they lacked a sport-by-sport cost breakdown. Staff provided preliminary participation and cost estimates and was asked to return with detailed budget figures.
The East Windsor Board of Education tabled consideration of policy 5136, a proposed policy to govern cooperative (‘co-op’) high-school sports, after members said they did not have sufficient budget detail to approve a fair, equitable approach.
District staff introduced the policy and presented preliminary figures, saying the high school had about 141 student-athlete participants last year and that district-wide costs average roughly $1,300–$1,400 per athlete; for some co-op programs staff estimated costs as high as about $2,400 per athlete. Staff also cited an example of transportation expense tied to co-op football: an estimate of roughly $22,000 in transportation costs associated with that program in a recent year. Board members repeatedly asked for a sport-by-sport breakdown of actual district expenditures and per-athlete costs before placing definitive numbers into policy.
Board members framed the issue as both policy and budgetary. Several members said they were concerned about equity if the board took a blanket approach that would treat all co-op sports the same while costs and timing vary widely (for example, ice-time for hockey or late-night gymnastics practices versus after-school sports such as soccer or basketball). Members also debated whether transportation should be explicitly guaranteed in policy or left “at the discretion of the board” and linked to annual budget decisions.
Rather than vote on adoption, the board asked staff to return with clearer financial data during the budget process. Multiple members urged the athletics subcommittee, finance staff and administrators to prepare a breakdown of spending by sport, per-athlete averages, and options for different cost-sharing models so the board can weigh equity, family notice and budget trade-offs.
The board voted to table the proposed policy on a motion by Board member Denise and a second by Board member Heather. The motion carried.
