Bethel-Tate Local Schools

Board of Education

Press Release 06/10/09

“Pay to Participate”

The Bethel-Tate Board of Education has approved a proposal, which will allow them to reinstate Kindergarten through 8^th grade (K-8^th) extra-curricular activities under a “Pay to Participate” format. After researching the facts and figures, along with several meetings, the board of education’s extra-curricular sub-committee recommended a proposal to generate enough revenue to fund the K-8^th grade extra-curricular programs of athletics, cheerleading, and drama.

The funding sources will be:

1)     $20,000 in donations from the three booster clubs that support athletics in the Bethel-Tate School district. (BTHS Tiger boosters, newly formed BTMS athletic boosters, and the Youth Bethel Boosters)

2)     Continuation of the current participation fee, a portion of which is allocated to transportation, for each student in grades 7-12 participating in an activity which requires transporting the students outside the district. These fees will remain at:

-         $65 per student, per activity in the middle school (maximum $130 per year), and

-         $85 per student, per activity in the high school (maximum $170 per year).

3)     Creation of the new “pay to participate” fee of $100 per child for each activity grades 7-12.

The “pay to participate” activities will be:

-    High school and middle school athletics,

-    High school and middle school cheerleading,

-    High school academic team,

-    High school dance team (non-transporting), and

-    High school and middle school drama (non-transporting).

This new funding plan should generate enough revenue to cover the cost of coach’s salaries, transportation to all away events, entry fees, and miscellaneous equipment that is a necessity to hold the event. The increased revenue will allow the extra-curricular programs to continue without depleting any funds from the academic programs or additional expenditures from the district general fund.

The following chart should help simplify the new program for the parents of the athletes, clubs, or teams.

·        Middle school students will pay $165 for each of the first two extra- curricular events ($65 old participation fee, $100 new pay to participate fee) and high school students will pay $185 for each of the first two extra curricular events ($85 old participation fee, $100 new pay to participate fee).

·        Both middle school and high school students will pay $100 for the third and any additional extra-curricular events they may participate in.

·        All fees are due prior to the first team scrimmages.  In the event the activity does not have scrimmages, fees must be paid prior to the first game, contest, or performance of the event the student is participating in. Failure to pay will result in dismissal from the team.

·        No waivers will be granted. All students are expected to pay the participation and “pay to participate” fee for each activity.

The Bethel-Tate Board of Education would like to extend its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the booster clubs which have partnered with the district in this funding plan for the K-8^th extra-curricular activities. Parents and any other community members are encouraged to participate in and support any and all of the three booster clubs.

A meeting for parents, students, or concerned supporters will be held on Thursday June 18^th, 2009 at 7:00pm in the middle school gym to discuss the “pay to participate” plan. Any additional questions can be directed to the district offices.

            For questions or additional information, please contact Jim Smith, Superintendent at 734-2271 ext. 1000 between the hours of 7am and 3pm.