Barrington hockey players protest budget cuts

Hockey players and their parents Tuesday added to the criticism of the budget cuts Barrington Area Unit District 220 officials are considering.

Tuesday night they said they feared cutting the stipends for liaisons to the Barrington Broncos Hockey Club’s boys and girls teams could mean hockey is no longer a varsity sport.

The loss of the school liaisons could turn the program into a club sport in the eyes of college admissions officials, making it less competitive against rival programs, they said.

While the opportunity to play hockey would still exist without the high school’s association, there’s a lot of value in earning varsity letters from the high school in the same way football and basketball players do, said Mary Magro and Dave Widmoyer, parent board members of the Barrington Broncos Hockey Club.

The $3,647 cost of the two liaisons was tentatively identified last week as a possibility for the $2 million in budget cuts the school board is seeking.

A third straight year of budget cuts is needed because of the uncertainties in the economy, including the level and timing of state funding, district officials said.

The board has been hearing from several groups concerned about the possible cuts, including supporters of the theater and gifted programs, and those worried by larger classroom sizes.

All of these groups were represented again at Tuesday’s meeting, but supporters of the boys’ hockey team provided the loudest voices.

“To make the cut, we’re making a huge mistake in our community,” boys hockey coach Rob Hudson said.

Several parents as well as former and current players said they already pay for all the equipment and facilities for the sport and were willing to pay for the liaisons as well.

But district officials say it’s not as easy as swapping out who foots the bill.

District board members reserved time to talk about the hockey program in particular at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, at Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St. in Barrington.

The board last week tentatively identified $1.94 million in possible cuts, including 5.5 teaching positions and 9.7 full-time support staff members.

A final decision must be made in March to give adequate notice to laid-off staff members.