Perrysburg schools sets fees for sports, extracurricular activities

4/27/2011

Students in Perrysburg Schools will be charged a fee to play sports and to participate in some other extracurricular activities, beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.

Board of education members last week approved the extracurricular support fee policy. Under the fee structure, $75 would be due from each high school participant, with a maximum of $150 per individual and a maximum of $225 per immediate family for high school athletics and selected extracurricular activities.

At the junior high, the fee would be $50 per participant with a maximum of $100 per individual and a maximum of $150 per immediate family.

The athletic director would set payment due dates for each sport season. Unless the fee is paid, students would not be allowed to participate unless arrangements have been agreed to by the athletic director.

No fee would be charged for team manager, trainers, statisticians, equipment managers or others in voluntary support roles.

Fees will be charged for activities that involve regular use of transportation provided by the schools.

At the junior high, those include basketball, cheerleading, football, cross country, Power of the Pen, Quiz Bowl, track, volleyball, and wrestling.

At the high school, the fee would apply to baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, speech and debate, swimming, bowling, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling.

There has been little reaction from parents or students during public school board meetings, Superintendent Tom Hosler said. No public comments were made during board meetings when the first and second readings were held on the new policy, he said.

Some parents have asked why some activities are not covered by the fee policy, and they have been told that no fees would be charged for activities related to classes, such as marching band.

The district is exploring ways to lower expenses families pay for children to play sports, such as by holding team dinners and award programs seasonally in the school cafeteria rather than separately and by limiting out-of-pocket expenses for team sweatshirts and warm-up gear, for example.

Perrysburg began discussions about participation fees a year ago as a way to raise additional funds amid budget cuts and loss in state funding.

Fees are anticipated to bring in $60,750 at the high school and $25,200 at the junior high annually.

Funds will offset transportation costs and operational expenses.