By GINA B. GOOD
PVT
The Nye County School District Board of Trustees approved a proposal supported by parents to charge students to participate in sports and extracurricular activities.
During the intense budget meetings at the end of the 2009-2010 school year, parents were adamant that the primary function of Nye schools is to educate children. Parents did not want to lose teachers, fearing their children would be in larger classes.
However, parents also did not want sports programs cut. Instead, they said they would shoulder the burden of paying for their kids to participate in extracurricular sports and activities.
According to those who commented at the budget meetings, such extracurricular activities were important to keeping children interested in school and motivated to do well enough in class to qualify for teams and activities.
At their July 26 meeting, the trustees approved a $35 fee per season, per student, to participate in activities. This fee is in addition to fees already charged for some sports. For instance, Rosemary Clarke Middle School football has a $60 fee, and joining the track team costs $40.
The new and existing fees are in addition to sports camp fees. The trustees do not control what individual schools charge for sports camps.
In a parent survey, questions were asked about how financially distressed students could participate in extracurricular activities. Chief Financial Officer Ray Richie said under district regulation the school principal, or someone he or she designates, has discretionary power to have the school cover the charges, based upon approval of a free/reduced meal application.
Richie also said there is no district policy limiting the number of fundraisers, such as car washes and bake sales or asking businesses for donations to fund extracurricular activities. Money raised by fundraising will be turned into the district office and deposited directly into the general fund as miscellaneous income.
Transportation is one of the biggest expenses that necessitate the pay to participate program.
Those students who take part in the following sports and organizations will be charged $35: drill team, cheerleader, football, boy’s and girl’s soccer, volleyball, wrestling, boy’s and girl’s basketball, softball, baseball, boy’s and girls combined track as well as combined cross country, boy’s and girl’s golf, vocational organizations such as VICA and DECA/Future Business Leaders of America, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, Academic Olympics and Future Farmers of America.
Those not charged include class advisors, school newspaper, department chair, club advisors, vocal, yearbook ,band and drama no pay, due to class credit , trainers and coaches and members of the flag team, as those students are part of the band.
Ithink that it is ridiculous for a school to charge children and parents for children to participate in sports. What is next charging to use class books. The fact that the schools have to do these things to make ends meet is not their fault but the fault of a government that will cut all programs but their own salaries.
Great article and point of view, but I wish it was a bit more technical in nature.
I agree, great blog.
Now to the topic:
The concept that the taxpayer is responsible for paying for after school is ridiculous. The parents should either solicit a sponsor to fund the team expenses or do so on their own. And if the parents have financial problems and little Johnny or Susie want to play sports, then the family should get off the couch long enough to drum up the needed funds. Go do some yard work for the neighbors or wash a few cars. Use your own initiative and teach the same to your children. Use this as a learning experience and quit being a victim.
I’m sure taxpayer money paid for extracurricular activities when you were in school. But it’s ok for taxpayers to continue to finance welfare and provide unemployment for those parents that won’t get of their ass and work. I know there a families that truly need welfare and unemployment but we know there on millions that don’t deserve it. Extracurricular activies are a part of childs education and kids should be denied the chance to participate because their parents may not be able to afford it. A lot of the cost for sports stems from transportaion cost to and from games. I know for a fact that the school transportation department gouges the schools for buses and vans for field trips and sporting functions. A field trip from PVHS to Pahrump Valley auto plaza would have cost the school $400.00 for a 2 mile trip. I’m rambling here but sports, music, dance is all part of a childs education but it always the first to be cut. Our society is in trouble if education is not seen as a priority. Quit cutting teachers who make literaly no money as it is.
If it means that my children still has the ability to excel in sports.. I will gladly pay to play rather than seeing him sit on his butt playing video games.
if the State
board of Education, and the Local School Districts would utilize the funding which it recieves properly instead of building new unneeded office or redecorating their offices there would not be a requirement the Pay to Play resolution. It wasn’t to long ago that it was reported that for every 20 students in the state there 15 administrators earning 75-100 thousand dollars in salery. That is a reason the school budgets are going broke nad our kids are lacking in a quality education. How much does the mandatory testing cost that is another exspense that is not needed.
In my humbel opinion the School District and the Board of Education have the attitude thta say screw the kids, as long as I get what I want.
Why not cut administrators making 120,000 a year instead of school programs? Wow.. there’s an idea.
Does a school need 12 principals and vice principals? Come on now.
thanks admin,great post!