Stoneham to keep school sports

STONEHAM -- Voters approved spending money from a trash fee increase last night to preserve high school sports and ensure that the public library keeps its state certification.

The Special Town Meeting vote action will give the School Department $750,000 of the $1.3 million in additional revenue. The remaining revenue will fund town departments and balance Stoneham's operating budget, after a $3 million override attempt failed by 237 votes in June.

The town's budget crisis, triggered in part by the failure of the override, led the School Committee to endorse a dozen cuts, including eliminating high school sports and art and music at the elementary level.

Faced with the shortfall and community concerns, the Board of Selectmen voted in June to increase a trash collection fee from $160 to $200 per average household to raise the $1.3 million.

Voters last night also earmarked $50,000 to protect Stoneham Public Library's state certification. "We've saved basic learning programs and high school sports, which everyone considers important to education," Marie Christie, a School Committee member, said afterward.