After an end-of-year budget report for Wareham High School athletics revealed high per-student costs for some sports, School Committee members expressed concern about whether the district is spending its limited athletic funding appropriately.

“The bottom line is we lost more [athletics] money this year than last year, despite the fact that we cut expenses,” School Committee member Geoff Swett pointed out following a presentation by Athletic Director Tina Clark at the committee's Wednesday, June 22 meeting.

Some sports cost as little as $100 per student after students pay their user fees, while others cost nearly $1,000 per participant, Swett said, noting that he did not want to mention which sports were particularly expensive.

After students pay their user fees, there is still a deficit per participant of more than $520, Swett said. “We've got an equity issue,” he added. “We need to come up with a plan” for using the funds “most equitably.”

School Committee members agreed.

“I want to make sure we're being fiscally responsible,” said School Committee member Rachel Gillette. “It's really tough to see a real small number getting a chunk of cash and I don't want to take it away from them, but I think we need to keep it in perspective.”

Roughly 250 students participate in athletics, which is less than half of the high school's student population, Clark said.

“We have an obligation not to athletics; We have an obligation to every single solitary kid in Wareham Public schools - whatever interests them!” said School Committee member Cliff Sylvia.

The School Committee vowed to continue looking at the issue with incoming Athletic Director Marc Loranger, who was formally introduced to the committee following Clark's presentation. Clark is stepping down from the position.

Loranger, who previously taught a physical education and coached at Plymouth South High School, will begin his work in Wareham on July 1. In addition to serving as athletic director, he will teach up to three classes.

The School Committee does not have any scheduled meetings for the month of July. It will next meet August 3 at 7 p.m. in the Wareham Middle School auditorium.