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Parents and boosters urge Beverly School Committee to pause proposed hockey fee hike
Summary
Parents, boosters and hockey leaders told the Beverly School Committee on April 8 that a proposed increase in the Beverly High School hockey user fee—from $315 to $1,000—would be inequitable and risk excluding students; the committee asked administrators for clearer cost data and agreed to provide more analysis before any vote.
Dozens of parents and athletics boosters urged the Beverly School Committee on April 8 to halt or rethink a proposed increase in the Beverly High School hockey user fee, saying a jump from $315 to $1,000 would create an undue barrier for families.
The most direct appeal came from Rachel Rex, a parent who told the committee the proposal "is not just a financial issue. This is an equity issue," and called for transparent, sport-specific cost data before any fee is advanced. Heather Johnston, leader of the girls hockey booster program, said the proposed rise—more than 200 percent higher than the roughly 10 percent increase discussed for other sports—would unfairly single out one team, including cooperative teams that combine athletes from multiple towns.
The public-comment period featured multiple personal accounts of how hockey costs already strain families. A parent who identified himself as the Beverly youth hockey president described common payment plans and equipment expenses, saying many families "put their credit card on the thing and we take out $200 a month" to afford participation. Retired librarian Alex Waznik urged the district to avoid cuts that reduce student access to library services and digital collections while the administration considers budget changes.
Why it matters: School athletics and user fees affect participation and equity. Committee members said they heard strong, consistent concerns from constituents and asked the administration to provide a comprehensive, transparent breakdown of hockey-related costs, existing municipal arrangements for ice time/discounts, and alternatives such as phased increases, family caps, expanded fundraising or negotiated rates.
Administration response and next steps: Superintendent Dr. Cushing acknowledged the public’s concerns and said the administration is preparing "comprehensive reports on the sports fees." Committee members emphasized they had not taken a formal vote to increase the hockey fee at the April 8 meeting and signaled a preference for additional analysis and stakeholder engagement before any decision. Several members also proposed a review of fee policy and options to distribute budget burdens more evenly across programs.
Votes and procedural notes: The committee did not vote on the hockey fee at the April 8 meeting. The agenda was adjusted to allow committee communications and follow-up discussion on the sports-fee issue; the administration agreed to return with detailed cost data and recommendations for possible mitigations.
The committee's next regular meeting is expected to include further discussion of athletic user fees after administrators post the requested cost breakdown and a recommended path forward.
