Budget cuts harm DECA program

My name is Aleena Brown, the current President of Gloucester DECA. I have been a member of this program for four years and have a number of accolades to back it up; I am an International Qualifier, a State 6th Place Finisher, a 2-time State Finalist, and a District Champion.

I would like to bring forth the implications of these cuts on the Gloucester DECA program.

Our program entered this year without an advisor. This put our program in jeopardy, as not having a full-time advisor limits what we can do overall.

Luckily, we got an advisor in Mr.Brady Frost. Without him, we would have not made it as far as we did. We would not have qualified as many people to states as we did. I would not have been able named a finalist or qualified for Internationals without him.

Now, Mr.Frost’s job is on the line due to the city budget cuts.

I do not take this decision lightly. Neither do my 4 other officers. Neither do my 40+ other members.

By cutting our advisor, the city is essentially upending our entire program. While we will most likely to be able to run the club (not the class, as there will be no one to teach it), it will be much harder to run activities without an advisor dedicated to our club and our club solely. Without a full-time advisor, we cannot do a majority of what we have planned for next year, which includes these goals and much more: attending the Power Trip in Kentucky, increasing our membership to achieve chapter status, and sending as many members as possible to States (Boston) and Internationals (California).

It’s hard to challenge other schools like King Philip, Westford Academy, and Danvers already — by cutting our advisor, it makes it even harder.

With the amount of GHS graduates that go into fields DECA teaches (business, finance, hospitality, marketing, etc.), this program is not just an extracurricular activity. It is preparation for our futures.

DECA gives students opportunities they cannot find elsewhere. It teaches professionalism, public speaking, leadership, teamwork, networking, and confidence. For many students, it becomes the reason they feel connected to school. It gives people a place to belong. It gave me a place to belong.

Now, I understand that this is city politics. I understand budgets are difficult and sacrifices have to be made. But at some point, you need to ask yourself what message you are sending students when the programs and mentors that shape our futures are treated as expendable.

Mr. Frost is more than just an advisor. He is someone who believed in us, pushed us to succeed, and helped students see potential in themselves they may not have otherwise seen.

These cuts are not just numbers on paper. They impact real students, real futures, and real opportunities.

I urge the school committee, the city council, the superintendent, the mayor, and all other officials that have any amount of say in this decision to reconsider. I urge you to reconsider these decisions before permanent damage is done to a program that has changed so many students’ lives for the better.