MANCHESTER — Some middle school and junior varsity sports at Manchester schools are not officially on the chopping block — at least not yet.

Mayor Ted Gatsas reiterated his opposition Thursday to cutting some athletic programs to save the financially strapped school district money, a controversial option that has been only suggested and discussed so far.

“Nothing I know of has been proposed formally or is even on an agenda,” Gatsas said.

Gatsas, chairman of the city school board, said he would vote against the cuts that School Superintendent Thomas Brennan brought up again during a committee meeting this week. The proposal would eliminate five of eight middle school sports and some high school junior varsity and freshman programs, freeing up nearly $189,000 to add staff and alleviate at least some of the overcrowding in the city’s schools.

The sports in possible jeopardy are middle school basketball, track and coed volleyball. Junior varsity programs in high school basketball, softball, spirit, baseball and freshmen basketball are also on the list.

Staff reductions led to a chaotic start of the school year Wednesday. Two math classes at Hillside Middle School had more than 40 students, causing Brennan to bring in a substitute and break the two sections into three.

“Now that school is open and we see the number of students in these classes, maybe that will be enough to wake up some board members to take a look at other areas of the district,” said school board member Arthur Beaudry, who opposes the athletic cuts. “I feel sports is an extension of the school and I believe an extension of the overall education of students. I am unwilling to cut any sports at this point until we look at the administration office.”

Three years ago, ice hockey, wrestling and skiing were on the verge of being eliminated before the board ultimately decided to keep the sports in play. Beaudry said he felt the 2009 proposal was an attempt to motivate board members to resolve budget issues at the time.

“To throw something out there as a scare tactic I don’t think is acceptable,” he said. “I don’t like using kids as pawns. I don’t like using teachers as pawns during this budget process. I don’t play those games.”

Beaudry said the current proposal may be genuinely intended as a way to help the district, but he believes there are better options and plans to oppose the cuts should they reach the board.

Brennan was not available for comment Thursday. On Tuesday, he told the Committee on Curriculum and Instruction that the money will need to come from somewhere.

“I believe the number-one priority is our academic programs, therefore I would recommend the elimination of some athletic programs,” said Brennan, adding that music and art programs could be next.

Brennan said he would not decide to cut the programs without support of the board.

Beaudry and board member Debra Gagnon Langton both mentioned administration as an area where cuts could have — and still could — free up money for teachers and reduce the number of overcrowded classrooms.

“I think there are other avenues to find more money,” Gagnon Langton said.

Gagnon Langton, who teaches science at Litchfield Middle School, said Brennan’s proposal may be necessary in the future, but not before other options are explored. She said the proposal to cut into the athletic budget would deny some students the opportunity to participate and should be only a last resort.

“I don’t want to see sports cut. However, 40 students in a classroom — that’s just astronomical. It is unacceptable,” she said. “It’s just a shame. I’m just very disturbed by the leadership.”

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Doug Alden may be reached at dalden@unionleader.com.