School Board discusses “pay for play”

Jason Shueh

Valley Press

The Plains School Board met once again last Monday to discuss a new extra-curricular policy that would categorize the priority of after-school sports in case of future budget cuts.

No final policy was created, but the school board thought more information and time would be needed to get information by talking with coaches and also to evaluate the different options available.

The school board decided to create a formal policy about after-school sports after a $55,000 high school general fund levy failed to pass in May with 349 against to 256 for. The failure of the levy forced the board to cut spending on wrestling, cross-country and softball, giving each sport only $6,000 — compelling the programs to raise the rest of the money themselves.

The new policy would decide what sports would be cut or partially funded by the athletes if there are future budget cuts. “I think probably our major concern is our we looking at activity fees increasing,” said Richard Magera, the Plains superintendent, speaking about the pay-to-play aspect of the policy. He feared that the rising costs might be too high for parents and athletes.

Viki Spencer, a mother in the audience, contested this viewpoint speaking from her experience. “I look out here and I see a parking lot full of cars and I see kids leaving the high school to go buy food every noon at Sinclair Gas Station and I think that if they really want to play they’ll come up with an extra $25,” Spencer said. She said it was OK for her daughter to choose how she wanted to spend her extra money.

“I just see kids that have money burning in their pockets, there are ways that if they really want to play they can come up with a few extra bucks,” Spencer said.

Nick Lawyer, a new member on the school board, agreed with Spencer about the pay-to-play option and saying it would help kids learn the value of work. “My thinking on setting up a pay to play is to build ownership. Not just thinking of playing sports as something you can do, but also something that’s worth working for,” Lawyer said.

Katy French, another member on the board, said that she thought the pay-to-play idea had potential within the new policy. A pay to play program is something worth investigating and if we don’t want to do it per player we could do it as a group,” French said. She also agreed with Spencer about potential for kids to earn money.

Magera estimated that it might take the board about two months to get a formal policy created.