Attempt to lower sports fees shot down
Fees will remain at $60 per sport with $240 cap per year for a family
An effort to scale back the family maximum for sports fees fell short at Monday night’s meeting of the Medford Area Public School District board of education.
Every February school board members review the district’s fee schedule to look at adjusting it for the coming school year.
Like many other districts, Medford implemented fees over the years to supplement revenue and close budget gaps. The sports fees were put in place in 2010 when the district was faced with a steep deficit due to cuts in state funding and needed to find new revenues or make steep cuts. Over the years the fee schedule has been revised and currently the district collects $21,280 combined across all fee categories.
Board member Paul Dixon, a longtime opponent to any fees, said the athletic fees in particular came from a meeting where the board had to make $425,000 worth of cuts in the same night. “It was a stopgap measure to put a small cork in a big hole,” he said.
“In a perfect world we would have zero fees,” said board member Don Everhard. He said he recognized a place for them, but said he felt a $240 family cap was too high. “I wouldn’t mind seeing a lower threshold,” he said, suggesting that for family who are blessed with multiple kids the price of having them in sports is a heavy burden.
District administrator Pat Sullivan noted the district has a process in place for students or their families to request a waiver from a fee due to financial diffi culty. He said all they have to do is request and fill out a form. Everhard still felt it was too high and made a motion to set the family cap at $150 per year. Board member Aemus Balsis seconded the motion.
Board member Steve Deml defended the fees at the current level, noting that for any non-school sport the cost would greatly exceed $60 to play in a sport. “If you want to play you have to pay,” Sullivan said.
Everhard disagreed noting the people’s tax dollars go toward providing a free education. He said by charging fees they are going against it being free for all areas.
While noting the value of sports, Deml said an argument could be made that tax dollars should only be used for academic efforts.
“I have been fighting this battle for years,” said board member Cheryl Wibben in defense of the fees for sports and extra curricular activities. She said these are extras and families should pay to participate in them and for those who cannot pay, there is a waiver option. She noted that compared to other districts where students are paying $300 to $400 per sport without any caps, Medford’s fees are low.
Board member John Zuleger said with the price consistent for 12 years, an argument could easily be made to increase the fees. “It is a bargain at $60,” he said.
In the end, the motion failed and the fee schedule remains unchanged from last year.
Referendum project
Voters will get a chance to decide on a proposed $29.91 million high school renovation and expansion project in April. Until then, the district with the help of Ericka Freeman of Findorff, is working to educate the public about the project and what needs are being addressed.
During the public input portion of the meeting, school board candidate Fred Ebert noted the district scaled back on their referendum request from what was asked last time, but questioned the need for an estimated $700,000 to be spent on a new access road to CTH Q when there are already a number of access points to the school complex.
“What is the rationale behind that?” he asked, Fleegel responded that there will be a reduction in access points to Hwy 64, something the state has sought for traffic safety for many years. It was noted that with the planned expansion of the Technology Education spaces, the access road between the school and football field would go down to one lane.
Fleegel also stated it would help traffic flow for parents going to the elementary school.
Other questions were about the tax impact of the referendum. The projection is for it to raise taxes by $148 per year on a $100,000 home at the same time the district will be retiring additional debt which will knock $56 in taxes from a $100,000 home.
Finance director Audra Brooks also noted that Baird built their projections around a 3.5% interest rate an amount she said still remained very conservative.
“We get a very conservative estimate from board on borrowing because it is always better to hear that it costs less than more,” Fleegel said.
Sullivan said it is important that people know the referendum is not tied in any way to the FEMA Dome grant the district is working to get. Sullivan said they will find out in June if they will qualify for that grant. “The dome is all by itself,” he said. “They aren’t even physically connected.”
Closed session
Following a four-hour closed session which included the attorney for the district who had driven from Madison to attend it, school board members approved the resignation of Stetsonville Elementary School principal SuAnn Schroeder.
According to Sullivan, the resignation is effective at the end of June 2022.
In other business, board members:
_ Applauded principal Al Leonard who announced plans to retire at the end of June. He will have had 36 years education with 31 of those in Medford. Sullivan quoted from Leonard’s letter announcing his retirement, “Deciding to retire has not been easy. My decision is rooted in the realization that it is now time for me to explore new adventures. I am not moving away from MAMS, but am moving towards investing my time in a leisurely cup of morning coffee, grandpa duties, my wife and fishing.”
“In your letter your wife is third,” Sullivan said. “She thought that was a win,” Leonard replied with a laugh.
_ Approved editorial changes to the staff handbook to allow leave time to be taken in 15-minute blocks. Brooks noted that with the payroll software program the district is using they are more easily able to handle this. The hope is that this will reduce the need for substitutes as people go to short appointments.
