District proposes higher participation fees, flat game admission to close budget gap

Director Marshall presented the school district's proposal to raise athletics and activities fees and change ticketing as part of the district's effort to reduce a projected budget shortfall. The proposal would raise participation fees for most sports, eliminate the family maximum, raise the student activity pass from $60 to $100, and move to a flat $9 admission for all spectators.

Marshall said the district expects the participation-fee increases to generate about $150,000 and a $2-per-ticket rise (to a $9 flat rate) to add about $75,000, for roughly $225,000 in additional revenue. "By increasing these participation rates to those that we are proposing, we will see approximately $150,000 in increased revenue," Marshall said. He told the board the increases would generally mirror the highest rates charged by districts in the South Suburban Conference.

The superintendent and Marshall framed the changes as part of a broader response to the district's financial outlook. Marshall said many stipend rates for activity advisors and coaches are below conference averages and that low stipends contribute to losing candidates to other districts: "...we haven't seen an increase at all with that piece," he said. The district also proposed eliminating the family maximum payment; Marshall noted other districts are moving away from family caps.

Marshall said the district will keep and continue to award need-based scholarships and that students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunches are automatically eligible for fee waivers. "We will never and have never turned people away from participation in athletics and activities due to financial difficulty at all," he said, adding the district typically asks families who receive scholarships to contribute a minimum of $25 to promote accountability.

On ticketing, Marshall said the district plans to move toward an online system that cannot easily distinguish ticket-buyer age categories, which is one reason for the flat admission price. The district will keep a cash option and a punch pass (proposed at $75) for families who prefer it. He also said the student activity pass already includes access to hockey games because of the district's arrangement with Dakota Ice and Fitness.

Board members asked how the changes would affect families with multiple participants and whether the district could better advertise scholarship options. Director White and other members urged clear pre-season communication so families know about assistance before registration. Marshall responded the district will promote scholarships privately and publicize the availability of assistance ahead of registration deadlines.

The proposal will be an action item on the board's June 9 meeting agenda. No formal board action occurred at this study session.