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Parents and volunteers urge board to drop proposed facility-fee increases that would hit youth sports
Summary
Several Benton City community members and volunteers told the school board that proposed increases in facility use fees would threaten local youth basketball and other after-school programs, asking the board to preserve affordable access and allow an eighth-grade 'play-up' protocol when participation is low.
Community members urged the Kiona-Benton City School District board on Monday to reject a proposed increase in facility use fees that they said would jeopardize local youth athletics and extracurricular programs.
"Do not approve an increase in facility use fees for youth programs that directly support district athletics," Angel Mendoza, a parent and volunteer with the Benton City Basketball Club, told the board. Mendoza said last season's requests to allow eighth graders to 'play up' were denied, which led to canceled JV games and lost opportunities for students.
Volunteer organizers described tight margins and direct costs. "Last year, we paid $964 to the district of facility rental fees," Sophia, representing the Benton City Basketball Club, said, adding that clubs routinely pay custodial and referee fees and sometimes lose money after expenses. Cara Johnson, another volunteer, said her club hosts Mid Columbia Hoops games and pays janitorial and referee costs; she said higher fees could force the club to stop hosting and reduce local access for children.
Speakers contrasted Benton City's situation with larger districts that the board had cited for comparison and asked the board to consider the differences in scale. "We are a small school…we shouldn't be compared to those 4A schools," Celeste Pace told the board, asking members to weigh community context when considering fee policy.
Board members acknowledged the public comments and said staff would consider the concerns raised. The board did not take a vote on the fee proposal during the meeting; public comment occurred under the procedures the chair reviewed at the start of the meeting.
