SALEM — The Symphony by the Sea Youth Orchestra will have to begin paying a fee to use Salem High for practices, but the 109-year-old Salem Philharmonic Orchestra will be spared.

The School Committee's buildings and grounds subcommittee recommended charging both groups, which currently use Salem High School without paying a facility fee, which ranges from $50 for a classroom to $450 for the auditorium.

"Symphony by the Sea is not a school-related program," subcommittee member Nate Bryant said. "There is a direct cost to the school district for all the heating and lighting."

Alan Hawryluk, a retired Salem music teacher, directs both the Salem Philharmonic and the Youth Orchestra. He said the decision to charge the youth orchestra for its weekly practices will likely drive the group out of the high school and into a local church.

"Fifty dollars is exorbitant; that probably means we'll have to leave there," Hawryluk said.

Salem children participate in the youth orchestra for free, while nonresidents, who comprise the majority of the 50-member orchestra, pay $60 per semester, he said.

Bryant said the subcommittee "labored back and forth," and School Committee Vice Chairman Kevin Carr said the group did not come up with the fee recommendations lightly or arbitrarily.

"They are fee-based programs, and we're incurring the costs," Carr said, "and we feel the need to recoup some of these fees."

The subcommittee proposed charging the Philharmonic half-price for its four rehearsals and four performances in the auditorium: $1,800 instead of $3,600.

'Already struggling'

Other School Committee members feared the facility fee would put the Salem Philharmonic out of business.

"This is an organization that's already struggling in a really tough economic climate," said Mayor Kim Driscoll, chairwoman of the School Committee. "... This could be a real hardship."

Driscoll said many residents, particularly senior citizens, benefit from the Philharmonic's free winter concert series.

"It really could be the death knell of the Salem Philharmonic," committee member Jim Fleming said. "If we drive that program to the grave for this ($1,800), I think we're doing Salem a disservice."

Ultimately, the committee voted unanimously to charge a facility fee to the Symphony by the Sea Youth Orchestra. It voted 4-2 to exempt the Salem Philharmonic from paying a facility fee, with Carr and Bryant casting the only votes against the exemption. Committee member Janet Crane was absent.

"We certainly recognize the value of these programs," Bryant said, "but our (priority) has to be in the interest of the Salem Public Schools."

Bryant said that in 2008, the youth orchestra used the high school for 25 practices and two performances, which would have cost the group $2,150 in facility fees that were waived.

Both groups already pay custodial fees.

Superintendent William Cameron said the value of the concert programs are not in question, but as the buildings and grounds department continues to see budget cuts, the balance gets trickier.

"Everyone recognizes the importance of community arts programs," Cameron said. "(These programs) bring citizens into the school buildings and show them off, but the resources being expended on the school side are basically made against accounts (facilities director Paul L'Heureux) is responsible for managing."

Hawryluk said the Salem Philharmonic, which he has directed for nearly 40 years, is funded through grants and donations, including the city's trust fund, which gives about $5,500 annually.

"Every bit helps, but that's barely enough to fund one concert," Hawryluk said.

The Philharmonic's budget pays for the musicians, who earn a union minimum, he said. There are between 40 and 45 musicians in the orchestra.

"My biggest worry every year is to try to get funding and keep expenses way down," Hawryluk said. "These concerts were intended, from the very beginning, to be free to the general public. And it's the only orchestra playing for free in the winter, indoors."

Groups exempted from paying fees to use school buildings

Alumni meetings

Booster clubs

Boy Scouts

Brownies

Camp Fire Girls

City of Salem community meetings

Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts

PTOs

Salem Philharmonic Orchestra

Salem Recreation Department

Salem Youth Soccer

Student activities

Student organizations