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Board outlines pay-to-play option as sports-busing bids spike
Summary
Facing sports-busing bids above $700 per trip and a shortage of drivers, the board proposed a pay-to-participate fee to offset transportation costs, discussed using district buses for away games and offering prorated support to small clubs.
Board members and staff told the meeting they are considering an activity fee to help offset sharply higher sports-busing costs after a competitive process yielded a single costly bid.
A staff member said bids for sports routes doubled and that "the only company that bid on our sports route is a company out of Lodi at over $700 per trip." The board discussed options to reduce costs, including asking coaches to drive vans for small teams, allowing earlier dismissals so the district can use its own bus for some away games, and offering incentives for staff to obtain commercial driver licenses.
Context: staff explained the pay-to-participate fee is intended to offset transportation and club costs, not to generate profit; any surplus would roll into next year’s program fund. The district noted it cannot make money on the fee and will attempt to prorate assistance to clubs with higher expenses.
What’s next: staff said an announcement about fee logistics and payment options via Payschools/Encore will be released the following morning, and the board expects to reassess participation levels by mid-September.
Attribution: statements recorded in the transcript by staff and board members during the communications and athletics discussion.
