Board Says Fairfield Cuts Made Public Months Ago

FAIRFIELD (CBS13) - The Fairfield-Suisun School District insists they gave parents plenty of warning about cutting sports, arts and other after school programs but parents say that's not the case.

"It's been in the newspaper it's been around," said Kathy Marianno, board president.

The school district board members are firing back after public outrage in a Wednesday night meeting, saying that it's no secret sports and after-school programs are on the chopping block.

Perry Polk, board president-elect, says that people just weren't paying attention.

In late February, the board voted to cut all sports and co-curricular activities. It's part of an effort to close a $6.5 million budget gap.

Furious parents and students packed a meeting at Armijo High School Wednesday night and claimed they were in the dark.

"I would like to hear from doctor, whatever her name is, up there on Hillbourne and let us know from here mouth what's going on," said one parent.

Clearly there has been some disconnect, since a lot of parents didn't know that these sports and these programs were going to be cut.

"You know, we did everything we could possibly do here," said Polk.

He insists it was made very clear during public meetings months ago, in district newsletters and newspaper articles.

"I said, 'guys we're talking about cutting sports,'" Polk said he announced in two meetings in February. "I think, probably the word has finally soaked in that really we're serious."

The only thing that can save sports and co-curricular activates now are salary concessions from teachers and staff.