arisamp

We've paid activity fees (for ECs) and sports activity fees every season. It feels a little strange - kids have to try out for the sports/drama etc - the tryouts are pretty intense and incredibly stressful - then you have the 'honor' of representing your school and you have to cough up pretty big bucks!! For us, the first sports season of the year is 300$. There used to be a family cap - but they eliminated that last year. A friend who has 3 kids in the high school - incredibly athletic kids - didn't let the kids participate in more than 2 sport seasons each due to the cost.

boysx3

Basically, if a house gets formally re-appraised the tax bill gets changed...but for a house that does not turn over the tax amount basically stays the same (for schools, not necessarily cities, etc.) . Basically from what was explained to me, the dollar amount of the levy is set and then is is divvied up to individual properties and there it stays until the next levy...once the bill is divvied up into x mils/X$, there it sits unless things are formally revalued, or the tax rate is changed with a new levy. This is why while some tax burdens go up along with inflation, the school burden doesn't--school tax is not treated the same way as general property taxes. So if property values go way up or way down within a school district, but someone just stays in their house and it is not formally reappraised by the assessor , the school tax burden stays the same although the general tax amount may change. Very weird.

happymomof1

If the community wants to have sports, and marching band, and drama, they can have it. They will find a way to do these things if they want them. Perhaps by agreeing to the next tax bond issue, perhaps by clubbing together in other ways to scare up the money.

Back in the '70s our school district was overcrowded, and the voters turned down multiple bond issues. Finally, the 3 year HS went to 4 years, but on split shifts (11th and 12th grade from 7 to 12 and 9th and 10th grade from 12:30 to 5:30). Half of the 6th graders were bused to the old Jr. High which became a quasi-middle school. Half of the kindergartners were farmed out to rooms rented from various churches. Marching band practiced from 12 to 12:30 in the hot hot August and September sun. Varsity football practiced from about 1 to 2. JV sports practiced at 5:30 when school got out. As you can well imagine, our parents were driven nearly out of their minds juggling our schedules. The next bond issue passed.

Kajon

Our kids go to private school and we have always had to pay $250-350 for each sport they play in. It stinks, but without any state funding that is just the way it is.

There was a school in our state that decided to drop the hockey program. The HS hockey parents got together and decided to keep the program, but charge the kids to play. Everyone was thrilled until the school board stepped in and said they could not do this because it was unfair to those who could not pay.

Maybe the parents get together and develop some "club" teams.

I hope the OP's school can find a way to keep the school spirit. I think this is so very important to the kids social development and sense of belonging.

owlice

Kajon, OP here. I'm sorry; I should have made it clear that this is not my school district, nor even my state. A link to the article was posted on another forum I frequent (a music forum), and I thought the article a good one for CC parents.

That isn't to say that my district doesn't have financial issues; it does! Hoo boy, does it ever! But nothing so drastic as what is happening in the district the article is abou.t

momof3boyz

"Sports are not the reason for Public Schools, education is, sport is optional and very much available in other settings."

I don't think the OP shared this story to open a debate on which is more important: education vs. sports/extra curriculars.

I live in a nearby school district in Central Ohio. My heart goes out to ALL the families that are affected by SWCS's failed school levy. Academics are (and always have been) our childrens top priority. Athletics and extra curriculars (school and non-school sponsored alike) are equally important in the development of well rounded citizens. All of life's lessons are NOT taught in a classroom.

Our school district instituted "Pay to Participate" fees more than six years ago. A family cap was not part of the distric's plan. My husband and I never complained having to pay for three boys fees each of three sports seasons. In fact, my husband's attitude is "It's cheaper than bail!" Currently, Junior High fees are $165 per student/per sport season while the HS fees are $190 per student/per sport. I believe Marching Band has a slightly different fee schedule due to uniforms and an extensive travel and competition schedule.

In addition to the Pay to Participate fees, our school district also instituted random drug testing for all students involved in any extra curricular activity. If a student violates the policy, sanctions from one academic year do carry over into the following year.
It is not a fool proof system. There are violaters that do not get caught. Personally, I feel those students are only hurting themselves. My priorities are focused on helping my boys become strong men of character. A few years ago, a senior athlete qualified for the State Finals in his event. This student failed a random drug test (chewing tobacco) and was not allowed to compete in the State Meet. That is one tough life lesson that was not taught in the classroom. It was an eye opener for many students to think twice about their own actions.

xiggi

Sports and activities should play a reasonable part in any education program. The defining word is, however, reasonable. When programs are given too much importance and cost enough to cause a taxpayer's revolt, you know someone crossed the line a long time ago.

This is simply a telling sign that the days of unchallenged budgets and excesses are FINALLY over. Schools should --and can-- do quite well without a football program or a marching band.

No matter how we look at it, the programs that are cut and supposedly now "hurt" many were probably prone to excesses in the first place. Perhaps, it would be wise for the schools to refocus their efforts on educating the mind, and let others (read clubs and sport leagues) address the body.

And, this is not one day too soon!

wis75

Regarding EC band activites- I can't believe band can be entirely extracurricular- the kids had to learn to play their instruments before HS. I was in a band program- concert band plus marching and sports playing. I see no problem with cutting out the marching uniforms and travel costs and having the band members do other music- being able to perform competitive routines isn't as important as the musicianship aspect.

thumper1

Just an FYI...at our school, playing in the band isn't exactly a freebie. Students pay a uniform usage fee, a summer music band camp fee, and either have to own their own instruments OR pay a rental fee to use one that belongs to the school. These fees are paid annually.

momof3boyz

IMO - Many voters in the South-Western City School District voted down the school levy three times because the elected school board refused to institute a "Pay to Participate" policy.

AllThisIsNewToMe

"It's cheaper than bail!"

That is hysterical. I will be using that when I reference paying our club soccer fees :-).

thumper1, I can remember my jaw dropping at the end of 6th grade when the band teacher told me we needed to spend $2500 for a trumpet (6th graders rent cornets)! We defied the teacher, bought a $1000 version on ebay and I plan to list it for resale (2 years later) and try to recoup some of that back. Band is by NO means free.

poetgrl

cheaper than bail! Rothflol!

xiggi--given the obesity epidemic in the US and how much that is costing us? Sports should be as mandatory as academics, frankly. I feel sooo sad for those kids. It can't be good for the community to have that many kids with nothing to do in the afternoons. And teenagers! Sad.

xiggi

I believe you're confused about my position. I wrote that sports and physical should be part of our education system. This is quite different from discussing the "excesses" and the activities that have grown past every sensible control.

In the meantime, if you worry about kids doing "something" in the afternoon, may I suggest a bit more studying IN SCHOOL, a bit of service activities, and perhaps after that a reasonable participation in sporting activities that are available outside a system that should focus on education.

And, fwiw, I am not sure if the elimination of a football program and a "marching" band will necessary increase the obesity problem in high schools. A cynic might point out that the O-line might as well stand for Obesity Line!

PS Despite my position on this, please rest assured that I am huge supporter of sports and physical activities. I just happen to think that schools should focus more on education, increase learning time, and stop wasting so much time and resources just because ... they can.

Modadunn

I think if you believe that education is just for book learnin', you've missed at least part of the point. I can't even begin to list all the life skills that are developed in a variety of extracurricular activiites! What I can tell you is that without programs available, kids will get into things that kids should not get into.

Don't make this a sports vs the arts thing of us against them. The line that struck me most was "every day feels like Tuesday." Seriously, how much fun is that? Do you really think an extra hour studying US History or an afternoon of doing calc problem sets gives kids the same benefits as the arts or athletics. Are we really trying to kill our children's imaginations? It's like the beginning (or a flasback) in an ayn rand novel. When you say schools should focus more on academics than EC's, what does this mean in this particular case? Because I cant see them focusing on anything BUT academics in this case - and, I might add, to the detriment of their student's overall development. I just think people who don't see the value of learning from a host of levels don't know jack about education.

bessie

I always paid between 300.00 and 500.00 for sports at the local public HS. We could write a check, take out an ad in the program, sell an ad in the program or, my personal favorite- collect "sponsors". Ugh, usually I just paid up and listed my relatives and family friends in the program because I was loathe to ask them to chip in for my children's EC's. As far I know, drama, band, and cheerleading all had fundraising requirements. It is very sad to see some of the cuts being made because a big part of the HS experience are the activities and friendships that occur outside of the classroom.