AJ coach urges board to reduce new gym rental fees for Apache Junction youth program
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Summary
Coach John Conley told the Apache Junction Unified School District board that new gym rental rates would cost his nonprofit feeder program roughly $320 per week (about $2,500 per season) and asked the district to reduce fees for the Apache Junction Miners/Minors program; administration agreed to follow up.
Coach John Conley, who identified himself as a basketball coach at Apache Junction High School and manager of the Apache Junction Miners/Minors youth feeder program, told the board the program recently converted from an LLC to a 501(c)(3) and now serves roughly 60–80 players across multiple divisions. He said the program subsidized jerseys and equipment through fundraising and requested relief after the district's new gym rental rates increased.
Conley told the board the current charge to use the main high school gym is $80 per hour plus a $50 janitorial fee with a two-hour janitorial minimum; he said that combination comes to about $320 per week for practice and "roughly $2,500 a season." He emphasized the program's role as a feeder to Apache Junction High School and noted most participants attend AJUSD or nearby schools.
Dr. Popolardo said he would have Miss Verna follow up with Conley to discuss the request and next steps. No board action on the fee request was recorded during the public meeting.
Conley also described that, in 2024, he took over full operations of the Miners/Minors and that the nonprofit carries its own insurance and licenses. He asked the board to consider a fee reduction given the program's community role and student participation.
