Published: March 19, 2008 11:10 am            

River Bend addresses participation fees

FULTON, Ill. — During the monthly River Bend School Board meeting Monday night, members discussed re-evaluating the Fulton High School participation fee.

"We are trying to strike a more balanced equilibrium," said Superintendent Jane Bauer.

During this school year, a committee has met to discuss changing the current fee of $265 per student involved in athletics that has been in place for the last three years. Bauer, Fulton High School Principal Kathleen Schipper, board member Larry St. Ores, board member Chris Barnett and Athletic Director Derek Germann all served on the committee. Together they have discussed a variety of ways to lower the fee while also creating the needed revenue. They have also discussed the possibility of having different fees depending on how many sports a student is involved in.

The committee brought forth its report and some possible ideas and changes to the board. The members discussed the different points thoroughly.

“If you are only a one-event participant, I don’t know that you should have to pay that higher fee,” said board member Jane Orman-Luker.

Orman-Luker particularly saw wisdom and fairness in having more than one participation fee price. She led Monday night’s meeting in President Dan Portz’s absence. Some of the board members agreed that offering a lower fee for student athletes only interested in one activity could be beneficial.

“It might bring more people in to do some of the sports,” said Barnett.

Others suggested keeping only one fee price, but lowering the amount. The issue was brought up that if single-event students paid a separate price, then students with two sports might want a lower price than those active in three.

No final decision was reached on the idea of separate prices for students participating in only one sport. Schipper said she would get more data on just how many students are only in one event.

“We are trying and we are considering all options,” said Schipper.

Another possibility discussed was lowering the participation fee by raising more revenue through a new facility fee. Currently, students can choose to purchase an activity card for $25 that allows them free admission to all sporting events. In this proposal, all students would pay a $35 facility fee during registration. This fee would be enacted for all grades K-12.

"I’d like to know what I’m getting for my $35," said Ed Cole, the board secretary.

After discussion, the board agreed that this fee would allow a student to attend all the sporting events in place of the current activity card, except this would be mandatory. They also agreed that it would be good for sporting events at any of the River Bend schools. This would not only provide extra revenue for the school, but also hopefully increase attendance at games and increase concession sales.

“If I was a parent and I had to pay 35 bucks, and it would get me into all the middle school and all the high school events, I’d be a happy camper,” Cole said.

The board decided that they needed some more input. They also wanted to speak to other committees and members of the public.

“Maybe, it would be wise to bring in somebody from the booster club for some input,” Bauer said.

So the board agreed to gather more information and speak to the boosters before making any final decisions. Schipper did remind them, however that the decision needs to be ready in time for the new student handbooks that are printed in May.

Until they have more information and opinions, the decision will wait.

        

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