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Putnam board approves $200-per-sport fee for scholarship and non-enrolled athletes after heated debate
Summary
After public concerns about cost and timing, the Putnam County School Board voted unanimously to set a $200 flat per-activity athletic fee and a $50 application/setup fee (waived for families already registered in district coursework) for certain non-enrolled/scholarship students, citing a July 1 state statute that permits fees up to $400.
The Putnam County School Board voted unanimously to set an initial athletic participation fee of $200 per activity for certain non-enrolled and scholarship students and to keep a $50 annual application/setup fee, with the $50 waived when families have already completed district academic registration.
Assistant Superintendent Miss France explained the change was prompted by Senate Bill 538 — effective July 1 — which allows districts to charge extracurricular fees and sets a statutory cap of $400 per activity. Miss France said the district had considered a $350 flat fee but proposed $200 as a compromise that would be manageable administratively and provide some relief for athletic programs. "The district is authorized to charge no more than $400 per activity," Miss France told the board, adding that the district "is requesting $350 for each activity" before members debated a lower figure.
Why it mattered: Several public commenters and coaches told the board the originally proposed fee could be prohibitive. Colton, a homeschooling parent representing several families, warned the $350 fee "may end up being prohibitory to our kids' participation" and asked whether fees would scale by level of play and how scholarship accounts would be used. Ron Whitehurst, representing Interlock High School athletics, highlighted officials' bills, travel and equipment costs and urged solutions that would avoid pricing children out of sports.
Board debate focused on fairness, administrative burden and timing. Miss France described paperwork and eligibility verification challenges for scholarship students and said families would not receive scholarship funds until September, so the district would not collect fees until families had access to those funds. Board members proposed alternatives (tiered pricing for multiple sports, reduced introductory fees, and local fundraising help) before settling on the motion.
The motion — to keep the $50 application/setup fee (waivable when academic registration is on file) and to charge a $200 flat fee per activity for the 2026–27 school year — was made by Miss Pickens and seconded by Miss Gilliard. The board voted 'aye' and the motion carried unanimously. The chair directed staff to post updated fee information to the district website and to prepare materials to notify affected families.
What the board said next: Members asked staff to continue outreach to the legislative delegation about the law's effects and to track whether the district should change the fee structure in future years. Miss France said she would document requested changes and post an updated form and FAQ to the website.
Action: The board formally approved the $200 per-activity fee and the $50 application/setup fee (waived for families with completed academic paperwork); collection will be delayed until families receive scholarship funds in September for those accounts that use scholarship dollars.
Ending: The board voted unanimously on the motion and asked staff to refine website materials and follow up with the legislative delegation and community partners.
