In a way, the signs are accurate. Shelton doesn’t have a pay to play program for its high school sports.
But that’s not how most people read the advertisement for the Shelton High School Gridiron Club’s annual golf tournament, which was placed at the corner of the Huntington Green.
The misleading advertising angered members of the Board of Education, who said the football program is fully funded by the district.
“In light of the fact that there is no pay to play, it has only been an academic discussion…. I would like you to ask them if they plan to return those funds, which were received under those auspices,” said board member Bernard Simons.
Shelton High School head football coach Jeff Roy Tuesday called the advertising a mis-communication and said he would take down the signs that afternoon.
“The Board of Education fully covers the football program,” Roy said. “They do a great job. It kind of came across the wrong way. That’s where the issue came from.”
Roy said the golf tournament, which has taken place for the past 10 years, raises money for extras, like a summer weightlifting program or summer and winter “passing leagues.”
“Two years ago, we were going to start charging the kids for the summer conditioning,” where two coaches are paid to help about 120 players with weightlifting, Roy said. “We were going to start charging $100 a kid to pay…. Instead of having the parents paying, we decided to take the golf tournament and make a little more money.”
This was the first time the words “No Pay to Play” got onto advertisements, Roy said.
“As the athletic committee chairman, we have no future dates or plans for a pay for play program,” said board member James Orazietti.
Board chairman Win Oppel said he would look into the matter. As of Tuesday night, Oppel said he had spoken with Gridiron club members and would report back to the board.
The golf tournament will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Whitney Farms Golf Course in Monroe.
