Greenwood, Loyal boards align athletic fees

With the planned consolidation of the Greenwood and Loyal school districts, there are a few overarching discussions such as the financial outlook, how the facilities will be set up, and priorities and goals for the new district. However, within the topic of consolidation are also plenty of smaller discussions such as how individual sports programs and extracurriculars will be run, course schedules, and aligning policy particulars.

One such topic is athletic fees, which the two boards discussed last Wednesday. The districts felt they needed to come to an agreement to be consistent because so many sports are co-oped. They decided that for the 2025-26 school year, both districts would charge $20 per athlete, per sport for middle and high school athletes, with a family cap of $100 per year. This was a compromise between Greenwood, which hadn’t been charging anything; and Loyal, which had been charging $30 per athlete, per sport for middle schoolers and $40 per athlete, per sport for high schoolers, with a family cap of $130 per year. The Loyal board also voted not to charge any consumable product fees. The Greenwood board did not have to vote on that, as the district already was not charging any.

Last year was the first year since COVID that Loyal charged an athletic fee and a consumable product fee. Pre-COVID, Loyal charged similar amounts to last year. Loyal made $11,440 from consumable product fees last school year and $7,950 from athletic fees.

“When we did charge in years past, [revenue from] athletic fees ranged from $8,000 to $10,000 and consumable product fees brought in $10,000 to $12,000,” said Chris Lindner.

Greenwood, on the other hand, hasn’t charged athletic fees or consumable products at least in the time that Greenwood District Administrator Joe Green has been with the district, since 2017.

“The idea we kept coming back to when we discussed this six or seven years ago was FAPE, meaning Free and Appropriate Public Education. We didn’t feel the value of charging folks was a big enough benefit versus the possible limits it puts on some,” said Green. “I have been in some districts where students on free and reduced lunch don’t have to pay athletic fees.”

He said his main concern was that a child would not be able to play a sport because of cost, particularly considering that Greenwood has 40% to 50% of its students with low enough family income to qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Board members saw different ways of looking at the situation.

“I would sure hate kids to not be able to play just because of the cost,” said Loyal board member Crystal Rueth. “I would think we could get someone to sponsor a kid though if that was an issue.”

“I’m sure we could get an older couple to sponsor a kid’s fee if that was needed,” agreed Greenwood board member Jamie Gardner.

“We’ve gone back and forth on this. The first year we voted ‘no’ for fees, we had the community come back and say, ‘Why aren’t you charging?’” said Loyal board president Derek Weyer. “I do think that if we know of a kid [whose financial situation would prevent them from participating], we can find a way to get them out for the sport.

“I do see the fees as needed, because referee costs continue to go up,” he added.

Loyal board member Dave Clintsman said he was “dead set against” a consumable product fee because children are legally required to come to school; whereas they are not required to play a sport, so he was fine with keeping the athletic fee.

Greenwood board member Eliza Ruzic suggested meeting in the middle with a $20 per student, per sport charge and $100 family cap. Chris Lindner said he liked that idea.

“Whether the fee makes the decision of if a kid could play or not, I would hope not — but we do have sponsors if they need that,” said Chris Lindner.

Ruzic made a formal motion, seconded by Dean Lindner, to adopt the aforementioned fees. That was approved unanimously by both boards.

Game admission The boards also discussed charging for admission to athletic contests. Green said that Greenwood charges $3 for adults for admission to games and kids are free. Chris Lindner said that Loyal charges $4 for adults and students, and kids are free. Also, those 65 and older are free and veterans are free. There is also a season pass for $35 that is good for the entire school year.

Green also proposed not charging anything for Loyal versus Greenwood games — for the remaining sports that aren’t co-oped — to build community between the two districts.

The Loyal School District made $19,350 from athletic event admission fees last year.

Loyal board member Tom Odeen noted that the school district did not charge any admission fees during COVID, but tried raffles. However, it became a challenge to get people to buy tickets and the school didn’t raise nearly as much money.

The boards asked the superintendents of both districts to come up with a plan that would be a compromise between two districts’ admission fees. They did not reach a decision on admission fees but planned to discuss the matter at their August joint meeting, which will be Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. in Greenwood.