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Board hears concerns about $10 gate prices for school events; asks staff to study options and bring recommendations
Summary
Board members discussed rising gate prices for athletic events, the burden on families and the role of schools in setting prices; the board asked staff and athletic directors to develop options and return with recommendations at the next meeting.
Board members debated ticket prices for school sporting events after several described instances where a $10 gate price was limiting family attendance. Members said ticket pricing varies by school and that some neighboring districts charge lower gate prices. Several members said a $10 price for a child or toddler is prohibitive for some families given multiple weekly games.
Discussion covered the reasons ticket prices rise — officials' fees, travel costs and other athletic expenses — and local administrative discretion in setting school ticket prices. Staff explained money collected at gates typically flows into school athletic/internal accounts to pay for officials, equipment and non‑revenue generating programs, and that schools exercise discretion in how they set prices. Board members suggested options: season family passes, tiered prices by sport (higher for football; lower for baseball/basketball), student discounts and reducing cash handling by encouraging electronic sales platforms such as GoFan.
Several board members said the district should avoid pricing families out of events and recommended piloting season passes or lower student prices. The chair asked athletic directors (ADs) to convene and prepare a recommended approach; the item will be on a future board agenda for formal consideration.
Ending: Staff will collect input from athletic directors and principals, study fee models and return proposals to the board for consideration at a future meeting.
