Bedford athletics costs rise

6/20/2013

TEMPERANCE -- Athletes in the Bedford Public Schools should expect to pay more to participate in sports.

District Athletic Director Mark German told the board of education Thursday that he wanted to raise sports activity fees by $10. The board, meeting as a committee of the whole, put the request on the agenda for its final meeting of the school year, scheduled for Tuesday.

Mr. German was supported by Chief Financial Officer Sharon Ramirez, who said the the district's athletic account was down by about $10,000. This was money that would have to come out of the strapped district's general fund. The account was depleted because fewer students were playing sports and there were fewer home football games in 2012-13, when the district collected about $144,000 in activity fees for athletes.

The increase would mean high school students will pay $170 per sport for two sports, and $85 for a third sport; in junior high, the first two sports will be $100 and the third $55.

Mr. German said athletes from families in financial need could get assistance from the Bedford Athletic Booster Association.