Brandon Twp.- Parents are willing to pay for their kids to play.
This finding from a survey sent home with students last week will result in the athletic committee recommending that the school board approve an increase in pay-to-participate athletic fees from the current $150 to $200 annually.
Superintendent Lorrie McMahon said during the athletic committee meeting Wednesday night that 213 surveys were returned from parents of intermediate, middle school and high school students. Of those, 159 were in favor of raising the pay-to-participate fees, compared to 54 who were opposed.
The recommendation for an increase in pay-to-participate will be not only for sports, but also for co-curricular activities, something never previously charged for. These extra-curricular activities would be anything that has an extra cost to the district, which includes but is not limited to, yearbook, student council, band competitions, and the school play and musical. The recommendation to the board will be to approve a fee of $75 per family with participating student at the high school level and $50 at the middle school level.
The committee will also recommend that with the estimated $41,975 increase in revenue from the fee increases, that the board keep the middle school football and sideline cheer programs, which had been proposed to be cut. The middle school soccer program is still on the table to be cut due to difficulties finding teams to compete against.
‘I appreciate the parents? input and their support of athletics and co-curricular activities, which is important to success in school,? said McMahon.
‘They are demonstrating a lot of support for their students.?