EPHS COACHES GET PAID - FOR NOW...

The Fall sports season is over and East Providence High School coaches finally received their coaching stipends on Monday, December 17th.", after a short protest to months of not getting paid. "We were promised our paychecks on several occasions but to no avail," said veteran Townie coach, Alex Butler. Butler has been an unofficial spokesperson for EPHS coaches during this almost year-long tussle to save athletics at EPHS. "First they (budget commission) tell us they want to slash our stipends by 60%, and then we're led to believe that we may not get paid at all. Then we're told we will be paid on December 13th. There has been virtually no communication with us during this entire process," said Butler. "It isn't just the coaches, other advisors such as band and chorus, etc. are targeted for large cutbacks or elimination," Butler continued. The budget commission met on December 13th and was expected to approve the issuance of the Fall coaching stipends. The Reporter has learned that the coaching checks were processed and cut but were held up and not issued. That was the last insult for Alex Butler who brought his previously private frustrations to the forefront by boycotting high school basketball games. A Friday, December 14th boys basketball game with Hendricken High School was postponed. Other coaches were in support of the boycott.
Although the issue was temporarily resolved upon the return to school on Monday morning, December 17th, the budget commission and some local officials are still seeking to cut sport programs and coaches salaries "through current negotiations". The Reporter spoke with several coaches, officials and parents. "I believe the Fall Sports coaches deserve 100% of the pay they are owed. It is right, it is just, it is overdue. To play these silly games with people's lives is unfair," said high school hockey coach, Kevin Croke. "Sandy Gorham, Alex Butler and many other East Providence High School coaches would have ample opportunities to coach anywhere they choose, but they stay at East Providence High School because they are Townies. The coaches are the heart and soul of our athletic programs. To jeopardize losing these outstanding men and women over a "clerical error" is not right," Croke continued. The clerical error referred to by Croke is the reason given by city officials for this paycheck snafu. "A communication breakdown," is how one official close to the process described it.
Another outspoken leader within the coaching ranks is veteran girls' softball coach and EPHS guidance counselor, Rob Traverse. "I commend the coaches for waiting as long as they have. There has been no transparency, no ideas, and no conversations with us in this regard," a frustrated Traverse told the Reporter. "Other professions don't treat their employees as unfairly. Now the budget commission wants to decide retroactively if we are to be paid at all, never mind cut our pay some 60%," Traverse added. Traverse who has recently led a volunteer effort to raise close to $20,000 to renovate and repair a softball field behind the high school addressed commission comments that 'our coaches are paid too much'. "I don't think that any high school coach wants to be overpaid. We should be compensated at a negotiated rate for the job performed and time we spend with our students. This commission is trying to cut us back by having us take a back seat within the teacher union negotiations. No one is speaking out loudly for coaches in that process," continued Traverse.
East Providence Teachers Union President, Val Lawson was glad to see the issue resolved with coaches paychecks. "I'm glad they got paid today (12/17), they deserve full pay. I want the coaches to receive their full stipends but there wasn't much I could tell them," Lawson said. "I think it was a communication snafu. We need our good coaches," she added.
Bob Lyons is a teacher at Riverside Middle School and an assistant EPHS varsity football coach and the high school head coach for Indoor/Outdoor track. Lyons supported the call to boycott although he wasn't sure what would happen to sports like hockey and track which follow different game procedures than basketball, for example. "We (coaches) received several broken promises about our fall stipends and have recently begun winter athletics. We have a lot of pride in this city. There is something to be said about tradition. This year our football team struggled on the field but our crowd attendance remained very high," said Lyons. Lyons further lamented the loss of middle school sports in total. "Our school is not like it used to be. The kids really miss their after school sports. It is heartbreaking to see this," said Lyons.
Most coaches reached by the Reporter were appreciative of the support they have received from students and parents. "The community should know what these coaches do every day," said Kevin Croke. Croke is not a teacher but is EPHS varsity hockey coach. Croke's team won the state championship last year as hockey was on the cutting block as a sport. "For anyone who doubts the commitment of any of these men and women (coaches), follow them around for a week. The actual time put in on the field, track, court, mat or ice, the additional practice prep, game film, gym workouts, meetings with the Athletic Director, Athletic Trainer, players, coaches etc. The time spent trying to figure out what we need to do to improve, to raise our team's skill levels, team play and competitive level...," continued Croke.
"I can't blame the coaches for being upset at this time. They are committed to our student-athletes and definitely are not in this just for the money. Coaching takes them away from their own families a lot and they should be compensated as they expected," said newly elected School Committee Chairman, Joel Monteiro. "I don't know how this can happen when we have budgeted items and just had a surplus budget year, we're told," said Monteiro.
"It's time we restore Pride to the Townie community," said Hockey Coach Croke. A sentiment heard throughout this process.