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Board weighs pay-to-play fee increase to help fund full-time athletic trainer and equipment
Summary
Administrators proposed raising activity fees (middle school $50/sport, high school $75/sport) to help fund a full-time athletic trainer contract and uniform/transportation costs; the board discussed payment assistance options and monitoring participation.
Eagle Point School District 9 staff proposed raising student athletic participation fees at the June 18 work session to help cover a newly contracted full-time athletic trainer and other athletic costs.
Director of athletics and district staff said the district previously charged $20 per middle-school athlete and $40 per high-school athlete and is proposing $50 per sport at the middle school and $75 per sport at the high school. Staff estimated the increase would roughly triple prior fee collections (the district collected about $27,000 last year under the old fees) and would help cover the district's new athletic-training contract with Providence, which staff said will cost about $72,000 a year for a full-time certified athletic trainer.
Administrators said Providence previously provided athletic-training services without direct district cost but can no longer offer that at no charge; the new contract will provide a local certified trainer 40 hours per week for immediate injury care, rehab services and sideline support during practices and contests. Staff said the district reviewed options and found the Providence contract to be less expensive than national alternatives and preferable for local coordination.
Board members asked about fee caps, assistance for families who cannot pay and whether the fee would deter participation. Staff said families could apply for reduced fees, payment plans or work options; decisions on assistance would be handled at the school level (high school principal or middle-school administrators) in consultation with the athletic office. Staff said many comparably sized districts charge more per sport and that the fee would be capped so students pay only for two sports per year (third sport participation would be free).
Board members also asked staff to track participation rates after any fee change; staff agreed to monitor and report trends. No final vote was recorded at the work session; administrators said the change will follow the district's normal fee-adoption process and that communication to families will be prepared.
