Ask the School Committee: How to Balance Education Funding With Extracurriculars

In the first of a three-part series, Dedham Patch asked the three candidates for School Committee: In tough economic times, how can we balance funding for a child's education and extracurricular activities?

Susan Butler Walko
Dedham is not alone in facing education budget cuts from the state and federal levels. Since the stimulus money that was used to maintain special funding is no longer available, our district needs to look at expanding programs that will benefit our students in the future. We must actively seek and embrace grants like the Massachusetts Math and Science Initiative (MSI). I attended the meeting when this program was proposed several years ago and was so excited about what this opportunity would mean to students. Last year, I sat in another school committee meeting listening to teachers exclaim their own enthusiasm about MSI. They raved about their students’ dedication and honest desire to learn more and earn better grades. This was a grand example of raising the standards in public education - the partnership of students, teachers, administrations, and the community. These grants provide funding to expand programs, provide professional development for staff and money for supplies. They allow districts, like Dedham, to increase course offerings, while freeing up dollars to be spent on other areas, without added tax dollars.

We must also be equally aggressive in looking for community partnerships to ensure that opportunities for students’ extracurricular opportunities are met as well. I know our athletic and other programs have worked hard to maintain fair costs for our extracurricular teams. Compared to surrounding towns, Dedham’s fees are actually quite low, and we have done a good job at keeping these programs affordable and available to all. Another great example of this is the partnership with the non-profit Dedham School of Music which offers very low cost, after school introductory courses for instrumental music instruction at the elementary school level. Participation and retention in this program has grown significantly in this program since it was introduced 3 years ago. 

Tom Ryan, incumbent
Quite honestly the point is moot. We are clearly collectively in tough economic times. However, the Dedham schools are in solid fiscal shape going into next year. Because of sound fiscal management at both the municipal and school department level, we are not facing the budget cuts that surrounding communities and school districts are being forced to deal with.

In addition, I disagree with the premise of the question; I am of the opinion that extracurricular activities are part of a child’s education. Academics always come first, but clearly music, chorus, the arts and athletics are vital parts of a student’s overall experience and personal development. The Duke of Wellington was once asked to what he credited his victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, he replied, “The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton.” Eton is an old English prep school credited with inventing the game of rugby. In other words, you learn a lot of important things in the classroom, but you learn a lot of important things about yourself and your peers singing in the school musical, marching in the band or playing in the game. In my eyes, these different learning experiences are equally important. 

John Maida
I strongly believe in the extracurricular activities because I think that it is a form of education. Whether it be sports or a drama club or simply continuing education by taking a class to learn a new hobby, our children are going to learn something new while participating. 

With that said, I do not underestimate the value of our children’s public education. It truly takes a balance. While extracurricular activities may teach confidence, teamwork and leadership, the education is extremely important to teach our children the things that are needed to continue their education well past the Dedham school system.

Communication is one of my bigger points and this is a prime situation where communication comes into play. There has to be a balance so that our children have the most opportunities available to them and without knowing how our peers as parents and peers as coaches feel, it would be difficult to make those tough financial decisions.

Nobody wants to lose funding for a program and I feel confident saying that nobody wants to lessen or remove funding from public education. We need to explore ways that will reduce financial impact and still maintain the level of extracurricular activities that Dedham offers.