L-R Superintendent Susan Lusi, School Committee Chair Sylvia Wedge, Doug Wilkey, Subcommittee chair Marge Levesque, Facilities director Don Davidson, citizens Keith Kelley, Ned Hole.

The Portsmouth School Policy subcommittee met this afternoon to review the building use policy and responded to representatives of youth sports programs seeking reduced rental fees. I don't normally cover subcommittee meetings, but I'd heard that the folks from Portsmouth Youth Basketball (PYB) would be there for this meeting on revisions to the "Community Use of School Facilities Policy."

PYB president Jeff Swider told me before the meeting that the season had been going very well, with about 250 kids participating in this first year of operation. "Next year, we're expecting another hundred," he said, adding, "That's why this meeting is so important."

At issue are the fees charged to outside organizations for the use of Portsmouth School Department buildings, particularly the new PHS Gym, which, according to the policy distributed at the meeting, is $150/hr for the use of all three basketball courts (local nonprofits for residents automatically get half off the rack rate). Next fall, the special 15% discount (off the $75/hr) PYB currently pays as an organizations in their startup year would expire. Paying even the half-off rate, said PYB supporter Keith Kelley, "is jeopardizing these programs. It already costs $90 for these kids to play basketball."

Portsmouth School Department head coach Mike Lunney spoke to the value of these extracurricular leagues. "It's incredible seeing these kids play," said Lunney, and especially in the new gym, "Now that we can accommodate them."

The school committee members and administration were sympathetic but cautious. "Overall, the school department spends $800K on utilities and $350K on building maintenance," said finance director Christine Tague. Added School Committee chair Sylvia Wedge, "We're not trying to make money, we just want to be reimbursed."

And the PYB seemed to want to be reasonable. "What is the real cost," asked Swider. "Show us the additional expenses, then we'll back off."

Superintendent Susan Lusi noted that the policy had not been reviewed during her tenure with the district, and suggested that Tague and Davidson work out a detailed spreadsheet to document the current incremental cost so that the rental fees could be revised. She also noted that they were now keeping school buildings open longer (which would reduce janitorial expenses) and proposed deducting the value of a remote scoreboard control system which PYB was donating. But she also noted some of the systemic issues, particularly Portsmouth's lack of a recreation department, which in other towns would absorb some of these costs.

"I've been very clear that we cannot cover every cost that has to do with youth in this community," said Lusi. School committee members pointed out that the question of a budget for parks and recreation had been raised with the Town Council several times, but never gained traction because of budget constraints.

The rest of the policy was approved by the subcommittee, with blanks for the fees to be filled in after Tague and Davidson's research, and the draft will go to the full School Committee for a first reading next week.

Related link: Portsmouth Youth Basketball