'Pay to play' for Bedford schools up for June vote

By: Justin Faulconer | The News & Advance
Published: May 28, 2010

BEDFORD — The Bedford County School Board is set to vote June 10 on a new measure that will charge fees for extracurricular activities.

The fees, referred to in budget talks as “pay to play,” are $25 per student for a sport or activity across the division and are non-refundable. An amount of $100 had previously been discussed by school administrators and activities directors but did not move forward to the board in a proposal discussed Thursday.

The money is intended to reimburse school officials for transportation and maintenance costs for the “non-mandatory” activities and not as general revenue.

Assistant Superintendent Cherie Whitehurst said more than 3,000 students are expected to take part in extracurricular activities in the next school year but more than 1,000 of them are expected to receive waivers or reductions because they are economically disadvantaged.

The fees are projected to generate $55,000, Whitehurst said.

Board member Julie Bennington said the $25 fee is “very reasonable” but may have to be increased next year with expected shortfalls looming.

The subject of charging fees for activities outside the classroom garnered various reactions from school officials and residents in recent budget talks.

Several board members said in previous work sessions that the fees were a necessary step in tough economic times.

Superintendent Douglas Schuch said in an interview in February the measure is not something officials want to do but that the division’s top priority is students’ education.

Chris Watts, Liberty High School’s head football coach, opposed the fees before the board recently and said they could hurt student morale, participation and classroom performance.

Board member Gary Hostutler said Thursday that “time is sensitive” in approving the fees because activities would be starting in August. The fees would be due prior to the first official competition or event and do not guarantee playing time in a sport.

School divisions in Amherst and Campbell counties are not charging extracurricular fees next year, officials in each school system said.

Lynchburg schools have charged fees at some schools for student participation in band, chorus and ROTC but not for athletics, said spokeswoman Leigh Farmer.

Staff reporter Jessie Pounds contributed.