USD 408 waives admission fees for athletes' parents years ago
Parents of student-athletes in Marion-Florence USD 408 will no longer pay admittance fees to home contests, as a result of action taken at the USD 408 board of education meeting Jan. 9.
The topic was slated for discussion based on requests from district patrons to the board to consider the issue.
The board questioned the issue of equity, noting the district provides free admission to senior citizens.
"It doesn't make sense to me to make parents pay to see their kids, when other people get in free," said board member Lyle Leppke.
"The parents by and large are the ones in the community under the greatest financial strain," observed board president Rex Savage.
Superintendent Lee Leiker noted the district has already generated $3,500 more in athletic expenses vs. revenues this fiscal year, requiring the district to dip into the general fund to cover the shortfall.
Leiker observed the financial impact of admission fee waivers depended on the extent to which different student groups would be included.
"If we had free admission, does that include parents of students in pep band, singers of the national anthem, pep club," he asked. "If so, the numbers grow quite a bit."
"I think we can draw a distinction from those who are involved in a minor way, and those who are on the field," board member Keith Collett said.
Board member Kathy Meierhoff expressed concern about limiting the fee waiver to just parents of athletes, acknowledging other parents of students involved at athletic events invest significant time, energy, and expense as well.
"There are a lot of cheerleaders' parents kids out there," she observed.
Board member Chris Sprowls urged careful consideration of the financial impact of the waivers.
"We've eliminated textbook fees and several other things over the years," Sprowls observed. "None of them have been big, but together they can add up."
The motion to immediately waive admittance fees for two parents of roster players for athletic contests, made by Collett, passed 4-3, with Jan Helmer, Sarah Cope, Leppke and Collett voting in favor of the measure.
Following the vote, Savage explained his opposition to the measure,
"My objection is not to starting, but to something very specific — that our discretionary funds continue to shrink," Savage said. "This is a worthy cause, but I'd have liked to have had an offset with it."
Building project
Noting that approval of bids for subcontract work for the new auditorium are imminent, the board voted unanimously to schedule formal groundbreaking for the construction at 12:15 p.m. Jan. 30.
Savage acknowledged the patience of district patrons and the board over delays in starting construction, but observed the delays have not been without benefit.
"We're still getting about 15 percent more square footage than they voted for, so it might be worth a little wait," he said.
"But it's time to move some dirt," Savage concluded.
The board approved a partial payment of $50,000 to Spangenberg Philips for architectural services related to the new gym/aquatic center and auditorium building projects.
In other business, the board:
— Designated Cope and Helmer to serve as board representatives on the Marion Elementary School principal search committee, with Sprowls as alternate.
— Elected Sprowls and Meierhoff as board representatives for contract negotiations.
— Hired Sandy Black as co-head softball coach.
— Approved the appointment of Katie Rahe as assistant forensics coach.
— Approved posting of signs at all entrances to school buildings prohibiting concealed weapons on school grounds.
— Heard a presentation from Tod Gordon, USD 408 athletic director, regarding HSSportsTV.net, an online service where schools can post videos of athletic events. USD 408 will participate in the service, which allows individuals to view the events by purchasing subscriptions to HSSportsTV.
