Participation fees raising concerns at Cape Central

A new pay-to-play system at Central High School has coaches and representatives of school organizations worried that more than parents' pocketbooks will be affected.

Monday the Cape Girardeau School Board approved a plan to charge participation fees for all Missouri State High School Activity Association-sanctioned student activities, including athletics, band, speech/debate team and scholar bowl at the high school level.

The proposal approved by the board is based on a $40 fee per activity, with a $100 cap per student each year. Under that rate, the fees would generate around $40,000 each year for the district's general operations fund. The board has not officially set a rate but has been using $40 as a guideline.

Central coaches, students and parents say they understand that it's one of district's few options for generating revenue during tight financial times but aren't sure if the potential fallout is worth the money.

"It's a tough situation. Anytime you have to pay to play there's an added expectation from the folks paying the fee," said Darrick Smith, Central's athletic director. "Our coaches' contention is we already have pressure, why add to it?"

The district will spend around $462,000 on those activities this year, paying for everything from transportation to away games to coaches' salaries.

Central junior Catherine Moreton said she knows the fees will be difficult for some students to swing.

"It depends on the person and the situation," said Moreton, 16. "There are a lot of expenses the school does pay so we can participate in those activities, but it's a public school, so I don't think it's the right way to go."

Moreton participates in choir as an extracurricular activity.

School officials say some consideration will be given to low-income students, who may be waived from paying the fees or eligible for community-funded scholarships.

That would be a big help to parents such as Patricia Cox, who lives on a limited income and has three children who want to participate in sports at Central next year.

"It's going to be between paying the utility bill or letting my kids play sports," Cox said. "To me, it's a form of discrimination based on income, and I hope they make changes to that."

On top of the fees, the board also voted to cut the athletic and extracurricular activities' budget for the 2004-05 school year by 10 percent each at a total $24,200 estimated savings.

Smith said participation fees are not unusual in larger districts such as Mehlville in St. Louis and House Springs in Jefferson County, where he discovered the participation fee is $15 per activity.

"I understand the principle behind the fees, but I can't say I'm for it," Smith said.

Central's booster club president, Roger Hudson, said he worries the fees may deter parents from joining or contributing as much to the club.

"It's kind of stealing from Peter to pay Paul because we give everything we receive back to the schools," Hudson said. "If they have to do this, then they have to do it, but I understand that some people may not be able to afford this."

cclark@semissourian.com

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