The Plainfield School District 202 school board and administration are considering options when it comes to student athletes who do not pay for the sport they play.
This year, the district issued $350,000 in fees for high school students who participate in athletics or clubs, and nearly half, or $172,000, of those fees still have not been paid, said Angela Smith, the district’s assistant superintendent for business and operations.
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For the district’s four football teams alone, $40,000 out of $87,000 in fees issued has not been collected, Smith said.
Supt. John Harper said those families who have not demonstrated any financial hardship, who do not qualify for waivers or who have not asked for a payment plan option are slighting the district.
“It’s sending the wrong message to families who are paying the fees,” Harper said, adding that the district is financially struggling right now and funds are used to pay for coaches, equipment and more.
Fee waivers are granted for low-income families whose students qualify for a free lunch. Students who qualify for the reduced lunch plan receive a half-fee waiver, and hardship waivers for those who do not qualify based on income are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Students whose families ignore the activity or sports fee, or make no attempt to set up a payment plan, may be forced to withdraw from the sport in the future.
School board members made no decision at their meeting Monday night, but said they need to work out a plan that doesn’t punish students or their team.
“In no way are we looking to penalize children whose families are eligible for free and reduced lunch or who will work out a payment plan,” Harper said.
Harper said making athletes “pay to play” seems reasonable.
Board members discussed how to collect these fees when approving the proposed fee schedule for the 2013-14 school year.
While most fees will stay the same as the 2012-13 school year, a few fees are going to rise. The fee for second, third and fifth grade will increase $3 because it now includes a planner, while fourth grade’s fee rises $7 for the cost of the planner and a musical recorder.
The cost of driver’s education for district students rises from $200 to $250 for the 2013-14 school year because of reduced state funding. The cost increase for drivers’ education does not affect students who are enrolled this upcoming summer, officials said.
All fees must be paid for middle school students to participate in graduation, and all fees have to be paid for high school students to buy a parking permit, schedule behind the wheel drivers’ education time, buy prom tickets or walk in graduation ceremonies, officials said.
Related: Plainfield Schools to Go After Income Tax Refunds of Delinquent Families
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So by your reasoning, Olympic athletes should get the credit not the country they participate for, the nfl players should get the credit not the state they play under, same for Major League Baseball and all the other sports, excepting say golf where individuals play for themselves and their sponsors ? This is about paying fees to participate in a program, and yes, they do represent their school, and since the taxes you pay to local/state entities has no money to fund arts or sports because of mismanagement, but if the parents cannot afford or don't want to pay, then their child should not be allowed to participate. Also, what does living in a specific sub-division have to do with paying or not paying ?
Now, take it out of the context of sports and broaden it to where it really needs to be...extra curricular activities. If this was band, or drama, or the art club...the schools get no benefit to speak of from these activities yet the students are allowed to participate without fees being paid just like the football players. It's not a "sports" problem, it's a policy problem that is system wide. And the policy is very easy to fix...no pay, no participation. Why does this have to be hard?
Looks like you're looking for excuses not to pay what is due. Is this your life philosophy? Let me ask you a question: do you or have you had kids in Plainfield schools and did you fully pay your school fees? If not then you are part of the problem and I have no respect for you. If you are, how can you have any respect for those who don't. This is impacting all our children's education.
All I hear from you is money, money, money... Yes, it's about money. It's also about parents living up to their responsibilities and setting a good example for their kids.
Sports Music Acting Whatever. If the parents cannot afford to pay, then the kid don't play, that simple. I should not have to support these activities.