Decision on pay-to-play fee for Hays USD 489 pushed to July

USD 489 fees compared with high schools across the state. — USD 489 fees compared with 4A high schools across the state.

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

The decision whether to implement pay-to-participate fees in the Hays school district will be discussed this summer when newly elected school board members take their seats.

At Monday’s USD 489 Board of Education work session, the board tabled further discussion of the issue until July.

Hays Middle School Athletic Director Bruce Rupp and Hays High School Athletic Director Chris Michaelis researched the activity/pay-to-play fees for 29 similar 4A middle and high school across the state.

Rupp presented the board with the data indicating USD 489 ranked the highest in total fees.

“Some schools include participation fees and some don’t,” Rupp said. “You can see the sharp drop-off after Hays and, to me, that just gives me more belief we just need to leave alone what we are doing now as opposed to drawing more fees that I don’t think would be beneficial to our program.”

USD 489 fees compared with Junior high schools across the state — USD 489 fees compared with 4A junior high schools across the state

Following discussion that included cutting sports programs with low participation such as high school tennis, board member Lance Bickle said the board might need to consider adding a pay-to-play fee.

Hays Middle School Principal Craig Pallister said the discussion reminded him of when Kennedy Middle School was closed in 2012 and merged with Felten Middle School to become HMS.

“It still resonates with me with the closure of Kennedy a few years ago. … We really did not want to cut opportunities for kids and the board kept saying, ‘We can’t eliminate the opportunities for kids’ and as we are looking at that, I keep reminding Bruce and Chris … (to think of) the opportunities for kids.”