Dexter School Board Approves Pay to Participate Increase for Athletes

Dexter student athletes will see an increase in the amount they are charged to participate in athletics beginning in the 2012 school year.

The Dexter Community Schools Board of Education voted 5-1 to accept a recommendation to raise the rates at Dexter High School by $150 and $50 at Mill Creek Middle School.

Under the proposal high school athletes will pay $250 for the first sport, $150 for a second sport, and $100 for a third sport. Middle school students will pay $150 for the first sport, $100 for a second sport, and $75 for a third sport. The board also voted to cap a family's contribution at $700.

"Based on the feedback from the community, we have explored alternate pay to participate fee structures, and I am recommending the board adopt the new fees," Sean Burton, executive director of Support Services said.

In supporting Burton's recommendation, Trustee Dick Lundy said he believes the new fees are fair to all students participating in sports.

"I think no matter what we do, there will be some folks who are not thrilled, but the fact is that we have to balance our budget," he said.

Trustee Bonnie Everdeen agreed, stating: "We're trying to keep the exceptional programs that we do have while softening the blow to the general fund. The parents I talked to were comfortable with this fee structure, and I support this fee structure."

Currently students at Dexter High School pay $100 per sport, with a cap of $300. The increase, Burton said, is part of a plan to make the athletics and community services departments more self-sufficient. According to Burton, half of the high school's students play at least one sport.

Parents: 'New fees discourage participation'

Prior to the vote, Dexter resident Diana Stetson made an impassioned plea to the board to consider an alternative to raising the pay to participate fee.

"I know you've already talked a lot about this, but my request again is that you remember the many families that this would be a huge hardship for, particularly for those whose son or daughter plays only one sport," she said. "If you charge too much, then you will have less participation, at which point you will have another decrease in revenue.

"Having had my children go through sports, I know the value of camaraderie and team work. We have fabulous coaches in Dexter, and what they teach these kids goes way beyond playing sports. To close the door to a student who wants to try something he or she might not otherwise have the opportunity to do would be a real loss."

Addressing concerns that athletes who play one sport would be subsidizing fees for athletes who play two or more sports, Vice President Michael Wendorf said the argument is based on false information.

"That's a red herring," Wendorf said. "If athletes were subsidizing fees, why wouldn't they pay the full cost associated with playing a sport, which could be $700 or more?"

Trustee Julie Schumaker said though she understands the need to increase fees, she would first like to see the school district bring in its club sports (ice hockey, lacrosse, field hockey, equestrian, water polo, and dance) as varsity sports in order to eliminate a two-tier fee schedule for athletes. Club teams are funded by their members, therefore they are not required to pay the "pay to participate" fees.

"I don't think it's fair that students in club sports pay $700 or more, while varsity sports pay $250," she said.

Burton said the athletic department is currently working on establishing a scholarship fund to help students who can not afford the new fees.

"We are in the process of developing an effective and sustainable scholarship program to assist those families who may experience a financial hardship," he said. "We are working out the intricacies of qualifications and funding mechanisms, but we're not going to turn away a student who wants to play sports."

Board President Larry Cobler said though he was satisfied with the new fee schedule, if funding from the state Legislature continues to decrease, higher athletic fees may be required in future years.