(UPDATED, 10:44 a.m. July 25, with a correction: Trustees discussed plans to float a levy, not a bond, in November.)
The Caldwell School Board unanimously approved a two-sport cap on pay-to-play fees during a Monday meeting.
The decision comes after the board approved a $100 per-sport fee for district athletes in early July.
Under the new plan, Caldwell High School athletes will pay a maximum of $200 in individual pay-to-play fees. If a student participates in three sports, the district will waive the cost of the third.
The new plan also includes a $50 pay-to-play fee for middle school athletics, with the third sport waived. Middle school student activity cards will remain at $35, while high school activity cards will increase to $50.
The new pay-to-play schedule is a result of the district’s failed levy renewal in May, district officials say. The levy, which had been on the books for more than 30 years, funded student transportation, athletics, extracurriculars, staff salaries, curriculum and more.
Scrambling to fill the budget gaps, district leaders have decided to close one elementary school, reconfigure middle schools and significantly reduce staff.
District athletics has also seen major reductions, with some coaches crowdsourcing to secure outside funding from the community.
Caldwell leaders say the pay-to-play fee schedule is not ideal — but it is one of a few necessary options to compensate for lost levy funding.
Trustee Andrew Butler, who has three students attending Caldwell middle or high schools, said the new policy could cost his family up to $685.
“That’s a lot of money,” Butler said. “But at the same time, I don’t think the third sport should be free either.”
“We’re doing it because we need to,” he continued.
Sports, said district leaders, can help students stay in school — and now, families may have to choose between paying their rent or paying for athletics.
Trustees said they hope community members can rally around Caldwell athletics, and assist athletes who may be facing financial hardship.
On Monday, trustees also discussed plans to float a levy in the November election.
“I would encourage the board to put it on the ballot for November,” said district financial officer Cheryl Sanderson. “I think our community is expecting it, looking for it and very supportive.”
