Stoneham Sports in Peril

A week after a proposed $3 million tax override failed, causing Stoneham schools to scrap sports, music, and art programs, town selectmen will consider tonight whether to continue an unpopular trash fee, which could reverse some of the cuts.

The trash fee, implemented during the last two years, collected $160 per-household raising hundreds of thousands of dollars. The fee was eliminated in fiscal year 2006, but now town officials are considering reinstating the fee. It could raise as much as $1 million.

In addition to program cuts, the Stoneham School Committee is proposing to close the sixth-grade wing of the middle school and move those students to the elementary school.

The override failed last Tuesday by 237 votes with many opponents claiming high taxes were rendering housing prices exorbitant.

Supporters of the override say they will explore other revenue streams if the trash fee is not approved.

(Information from the Boston Globe contributed to this report)