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Board reopens athletics policy; district examines hockey costs and out‑of‑district players
Summary
The board revisited policy 2431 (Interscholastic Athletics) and directed staff to refine cost estimates and legal guidance for nonresident athletes after administrators said the hockey program costs about $76,000 a year and roughly $2,000 per athlete.
The board returned to unfinished business on policy 2431, focusing on interscholastic athletics and the specific question of whether Mentor should permit and under what terms students from other districts may participate on Mentor teams, especially ice hockey.
Mr. Heath briefed the board on a cost‑analysis effort to capture total program expenses (supplies, officials, police, entry fees, rentals, supplementals, transportation) and calculate cost per athlete. He said the district is "continuing to dig into this a little bit more" and suggested bringing a fuller report back in June or July to prepare for the 2026–27 school year.
Cost details and policy constraints: Administration told the board the hockey program costs about $76,000 annually, with rental costs roughly $28,000 included in that total. "It costs us $2,000 per athlete," the administrator said, and noted that the district currently caps participation and sometimes cuts athletes based on roster limits. Board members discussed whether a sliding scale or sport‑specific participation fee could help reduce subsidy, and whether districts that send students could reimburse Mentor, but noted legal constraints about charging different amounts for students in the same sport.
Board direction: Trustees asked administration to investigate legal questions (including whether the district can cap out‑of‑district participants and whether other districts can be asked to reimburse costs) and to return with an itemized cost breakdown and legal guidance. Several trustees expressed willingness to consider case‑by‑case solutions in the short term if they are legally permissible and administratively feasible.
Public input: Board members referenced community emails and local families advocating for continued access to hockey; the board balanced those concerns against fiscal pressure discussed elsewhere on the agenda.
Next steps: Administration will produce a more detailed cost and legal memo for the board by early summer and will not implement policy changes immediately.
