Mt. Pleasant Schools, Town Squabble Over Facilities for Recreation
A growing rift between the Mount Pleasant School District and the town has put the future of a recreational adult men’s basketball program in jeopardy after 40 years of operation.
Calling cancellation “a strong possibility,” Supervisor Joan Maybury said the town was notified about three weeks ago by the district that the program, which has been held in the Westlake Middle School gymnasium, could no longer be accommodated.
School officials have pointed out that the district’s teams will be using the facility the program
She wrote a letter to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Susan Guiney and Board of Education President James Grieco in hopes of saving the basketball program, one of the town’s recreational programs that has benefitted from a shared-facilities arrangement between the town and school district.
“We have enjoyed strong communication and cooperation in the past with the school district to meet the recreational needs of our taxpayers and residents,” Maybury wrote in her letter. “We request the men’s basketball program be allocated space to continue its 41st year due to the extremely short notice provided. At the same time, let’s plan on reviewing our existing agreements for field and facility use so we can continue to meet the needs of our children and adults through offering appropriate athletic programs.”
Town board members criticized the school district during their Oct. 15 work session.
Councilman Carl Fulgenzi said the town regularly provides facilities for the school district.
By not allowing the town to use the middle school gym for the basketball program, the district is “being very unfair to the taxpayers,” Councilman Thomas Sialiano said.
As recently as two years ago, the town had programs in both the middle school and high school, Maybury said. The season typically starts in late November of early December.
Guiney said last week that the district’s athletic teams will be using the facility on the evenings that had been requested.
“We offered several other options, which they were going to consider,” Guiney said. “We also happen to be one of five school districts in the Town of Mount Pleasant, so certainly if the facilities were not available in (the) Mount Pleasant (district) they could certainly reach out to the other school districts in the town and ask about other facilities.”
Guiney said she understood the town’s concern about a lack of facilities for sports programs.
“I think the town in general, as all of us, have concerns about adequate facilities and field space,” she said. “The Mount Pleasant Central School District is a partner. The town camp is held here in our facilities throughout the entire summer. Many other sports programs and youth programs are held on our fields.”
Guiney added that other town recreation programs are held after school at Hawthorne Elementary School.
“I think to present an appearance that the school district is not open and amenable and accessible to the town, I think, is inaccurate,” Guiney said.
