If you’ve been dropped off or drove by the high school, it’s hard to ignore the new sign off of Chapin Avenue. The 10 by 6 by 1.5 foot sign is an electronic display that currently shows the time, the weather, and details of upcoming school events. Although this sign looks harmless as an addition to the school’s landscape, the school’s newest construction project has its harshest critics on the football team.
After a year long halt in normal eleven on eleven football, why would the team be so upset with a sign? Many members of the football team claim that funds were reallocated from their booster club and given as a donation to the Board of Education for the sign. Senior and Captain Tyreice Dominique says, “We could’ve had (that money) for the football team this year ….if not for that sign.” The football team is responsible for a significant portion of fundraising for their booster club, which is an independent non-profit organization separate from the school.
According to the current booster club president and football parent, Eileen Bozzi, the decision to build the sign, “…started with the prior (football) coaching staff…. (who) had expressed interest in putting…a digital sign in front of the high school.” In addition, parents and students claim that the previous parents (of the booster club) created an agreement with the Board of Education where both organizations would each cover 15 thousand dollars for all costs related to the sign.
In the Town of Rocky Hill’s past adopted budgets, from fiscal years: 18-19, 19-20, 20-21, and 21- 22, no funds can be found for any sign for RHHS and no mention of a donation for such a project could be found. There was also no mention over the source of funds at September’s Board of Education meeting.
Even with the ongoing mysteries over the source of the funds, the answers may arise in the future over what to do.
