North Attleborough raises athletic fees to $250 per student; $750 family cap approved

The North Attleborough School Committee voted 7-0 to raise athletic user fees from $150 to $250 per student, with a $750 family cap, to allow the district to open enrollment and inform families of the cost.

Committee members said rising transportation costs and required program expenses have driven a shortfall in the athletics budget. “My understanding, correct me if I'm wrong, is that 1 of the large drivers of the cost increase of athletics has been transportation cost increases over the last few years,” a committee speaker said during debate. A staff speaker added, “Correct. Yeah. The transportation is a huge is very large, driver there.”

Officials also cited a software program used primarily in football that the district identified as a recurring expense, described in the meeting as a roughly $14,000 program. Committee members said that revenue from gate receipts and booster support help subsidize athletics overall, but that those sources have not covered all rising costs.

Several committee members raised equity concerns about applying a single increase to all athletics while other extracurricular activities carry widely varying costs. One member noted that some clubs, such as chess, have minimal expenses and currently charge $75, while theater programs use staging and sell admissions to offset costs. The committee agreed those other extracurricular fees were not before them at this meeting and said they would be discussed in ongoing negotiations and through Appendix B of contract talks.

The motion to raise athletic user fees passed on a voice vote. The chair called, “All those in favor, say aye.” The committee recorded the tally as 7-0 in favor.

The fee increase takes effect for the upcoming enrollment period so the district can publish the new costs to families. No mover or seconder was recorded in the transcript; no individual roll-call votes were provided.