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Athletic Merger of Cranston East, West High Schools Proposed

Chris Boardman

Story Created: Jan 21, 2010 at 1:00 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jan 21, 2010 at 6:33 PM EDT

CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) - The athletic director of Cranston's two high schools is proposing merging some athletic programs, including soccer, cross-country and field-hockey.

Michael Traficante tells The Providence Journal that the consolidation at Cranston West and Cranston East high schools is intended to save money and prevent the elimination of varsity athletic programs.

Sports including football, baseball and boys' basketball would not be affected.

The Cranston school district is facing a projected $1 million deficit for the current year.

Traficante says consolidating sports teams isn't an ideal option, but at least prevents entire varsity programs from being cut.

The merger would have to be approved by a committee of the Rhode
Island Interscholastic League.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Sunday, Feb 7 at 11:56 AM Anonymous wrote ...

although i would hate to see so many sports be cut, and others merged is for the simple fact that many players would that have originally made the team, will be finding themselves teamless in years to come. On another note, Both West and East have some phenomenal players for the sports that are being merged. Putting these two schools together could mean many more state titles.

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Saturday, Jan 23 at 11:13 AM Anonymous wrote ...

The last name Traficante has nothing good connected with it.

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Thursday, Jan 21 at 10:36 PM Thank god not a Cranston resident anymore wrote ...

are u serious? Cranston has a high tax rate (think higher than Newport) and they yell, kick, and scream foul? They have already closed some Vocational classes including one that my husband attend and graduated from. Yet, his STATE TROPHY that he won at West is "no where to be found"! Thank god I do not live in the City and State anymore. Pathatic!!!

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Thursday, Jan 21 at 8:46 PM Anon wrote ...

I would like to know why the school programs YET AGAIN need to be cut. Find somewhere else (like Traf's paycheck) to cut the funds since we're supposed to be supporting our youth not hindering them.

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Thursday, Jan 21 at 1:58 PM Cranston Res. wrote ...

Let me get this right;In this plan,half of the students that would have been athlets are now going to be cut out all togehter to save money for the city. That is just not right.I would love to find out where all of my extreamly high tax dollars are going. After all, my street is NEVER plowed,I have hit several potholes,and the schools are suffering to boot. Educating our future generation, and having them learn vital team work skill are important to our recovery as a state!

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Thursday, Jan 21 at 1:25 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Save 40,000 now at the kids expense . Pay ten fold in the future at our expense. Keep the kids off the street. Cut internaly...

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Thursday, Jan 21 at 1:16 PM resident wrote ...

Traficante is an Idiot he was the one who sold his soul to the teachers union.Then they hired him back. Dees Demms Dose

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