Athletic fees, waivers and base program finances draw scrutiny as participation dips
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Summary
The committee reviewed receipts and waiver refunds after athletic fees rose to $600; officials reported 315 fall athletes with 40 waivers, 60 fewer participants than last year and planned refunds totaling $9,600. The district also reported the after-school base program returned to a positive balance after operational changes.
The school committee received a business-office briefing Wednesday on athletic fees, waiver refunds and the district’s before-and-after-school (BASE) finances.
Treasurer/Director of Business Services Miss Babalola told the committee the district collected $171,000 in high-school athletic fees so far this fiscal year and will issue 16 refunds this month totaling $9,600 because some students who qualified for waivers had already paid. Committee members asked whether the district could better screen waiver eligibility before families pay; staff said they will examine process improvements but noted families may pay online at sign-up and later become eligible for a waiver.
Superintendent Powers said the high school had 315 fall athletes (153 boys, 162 girls). Of those, 40 students qualified for fee waivers, leaving 275 athletes expected to pay $600, which would generate about $165,000; Powers said the district had collected that amount by September. Officials also reported 60 fewer fall athletes districtwide compared with last year, which raised concerns about fee-driven declines in participation, particularly at the middle-school level where some teams failed to field girls squads.
Committee members asked whether refunds carry administrative costs; staff said refunds are issued by check and do not incur a printing fee.
The committee also heard a report on the district’s BASE program. Director Joannelyn Silva and business staff said changes to registration practice and staffing reduced deficits. Summer BASE enrollment was 179 students and produced $114,628 (including registration fees); summer salaries were $107,014, and the summer program ended with a positive balance. For September, combined site revenue was $190,226; after salaries and expenses the program was projected to deposit about $136,944 into its fund balance for the start of the school year.
Officials said they will continue quarterly monitoring of athletic fees and will reevaluate middle-school participation if the higher fee persists next year.