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Paola board hears options for athletic passes; electronic GoFan and punch-card models discussed
Summary
School leaders and staff debated switching to an electronic ticketing system (GoFan) or keeping a physical punch-card pass for home athletic events, weighing convenience, fraud prevention and fees.
Paola Unified School District staff described two main options for athletic season and single-game passes at Paola High School: a plastic punch-card system and an electronic ticketing platform called GoFan. Darren, a district staff member who led the presentation, said the district could model a program after nearby Spring Hill’s individual-pass approach or offer 10- and 20-use punch cards sold through the high school.
The discussion centered on tradeoffs between user convenience and gate management. Darren said GoFan would allow individual season passes on phones and one-time transfers but would charge a per-transaction fee to the purchaser; he described the punch-card as cheaper to implement, harder to duplicate and easier for gate workers to accept without relying on cell service. “If you bought a 20-punch pass, you’d end up saving roughly one free game by the end of the pass,” Darren said.
Board members and staff raised implementation details. Questions included whether an electronic family pass could hold multiple tickets on one phone, whether passes could be scanned multiple times in a single entry, and how to handle students who enter free with school activity IDs. Darren said GoFan’s settings are configurable (single-game, season, or pass options) and that the district will pursue a follow-up meeting with GoFan to confirm features and fees.
Practical considerations influenced preferences. Several board members favored moving toward electronic sales to serve patrons who no longer carry cash, but they also emphasized maintaining a cash option at gates for grandparents and walk-up visitors. The board discussed limiting family-style passes because identifying household membership at gates can be difficult for temporary gate workers. No formal motion was taken; staff will follow up with product details and vendor meetings.
Ending: The board indicated a working preference for electronic ticketing if it can replicate punch-card flexibility; staff will report back with vendor specifics and cost comparisons before a final decision.
