Sports fees: what do you think?

Those sports fees are going up, up, up, pinching parents who want their kids to play. It costs
about $175 per sport at Wellesley High, with an annual family cap of $1050.

Now, an area school superintendent wants to use some federal stimulus money to eliminate the sports fees for the next two years.

The Globe's Bob Holmes reports that Shawsheen Regional superintendent Charles Lyons and members of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association board are urging Governor Deval Patrick to use $24-million in federal stimulus money given to the state to do away with user fees for the next two years.

"I think feeing kids at the public school level is a disgrace," said Lyons.

What do you think? Should federal money -- or state money, for that matter -- be used to eliminate sports fees? Should the fees be capped this year?

You can read our previous coverage of sports fees here.

And read the full MIAA letter to Gov. Patrick below.

Dear Governor Patrick,

We would first like to congratulate you in the important role you played in convincing the Obama Administration to successfully pass a federal economic stimulus package beneficial to states, local jurisdictions, school districts, and families. This economic stimulus package provides needed support to local school systems and children who benefit from the important programs offered within such.

We know that as a candidate for Governor, you were one of the first statewide leaders to openly seek a pathway to eliminate user fees for "extended school day" activities. It is commonly accepted that extended school days are of real value to young people. We need to acknowledge that young people have fewer healthy options than were available to previous generations, without an extended school day. Many students are members of families where no adult is home after school.

The values and life lessons learned through participation in education-based athletics are widely known and quantified repeatedly through National, State, and local studies. Research has demonstrated dramatic positive outcomes for those who participate. Data demonstrates grade point averages and graduation rates of participants are significantly higher than those not participating. In addition, there is clear evidence that dropout rates and discipline problems are significantly lower for student-athletes. Education based athletics are unique to the American Educational System. The opportunity for participation should be available to all students.

We have seen firsthand the negative effect user fees have had upon families in many school districts, and we also feel that participation of more students would result from the elimination of those fees. Moreover, we are deeply concerned that with rising unemployment and underemployment, many families will not be in a position to continue the cost of after school activities for their children.

We write to you today seeking your support to allow local school district the ability to use federal stimulus funds to eliminate user fees for co-curricular activities over the next two years. The elimination of users' fees would put dollars back into the pockets of parents who could use those saved funds to "stimulate" the economy. Undisputable advantages cannot be exclusive to the "haves". Users' fees are an obstacle to fair access and opportunity to students. Statewide elimination of these fees would Broaden opportunities.

As documented in a letter attached from Dr. Paul E. Harrington of Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies, employment opportunities for high school youth are at the lowest levels since the Great Depression. Idle unspervised youth leads to far greater costs and challenges than the investment needed to engage them in programs that build citizenship and character.

In a report published by the Massachusetts Department of Education in January of 2008 entitled, "Preliminary Report on the Current Fiscal Conditions in Massachusetts School Districts" the following was documented: "Spending from athletic revolving funds, which is largely supported by user fees, increased from $12 million to $23 million between fiscal years 2002 and 2006, suggesting that districts are relying less on general fund revenues and more on fees to support these programs....It's important to remember, however, that the dollars that districts spend from fee revenues represent a very small share of district operating expenditures, generally well under 1 percent. They are probably more valuable as a means of gaining visibility for challenging district fiscal conditions than as a means of resolving them."

The federal stimulus program that you played a critical role in acquiring will provide over $1 billion in direct support to local school districts over the next two years. Clearly, there are sufficient federal stimulus funds to eliminate using children as a means of gaining visibility rather than solving a fiscal challenge. We need your leadership to eliminate user fees.

We urge you to allow these federal educational stimulus funds to be used to eliminate sport fees and other after shcool fees for the immediate future. Any efforts you could make to communicate this position to Education Secretary Paul Reville and Commissioner Mitchell Chester would be both timely and deeply appreciated. Please let us know how we can assist you in your stated goal to reduce fees for after school athletics and other worthy extended school day programs.

Sincerely,
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Directors