Superintendent Hopes to Eliminate Athletic Fees

The has the highest athletic fees in the Bay State Conference at $250 per sport with the exception of boys and girls ice hockey at $500, but Superintendent Mary Gormley hopes that with outside grants all students can participate for free.

"We're going to work really really hard at (eliminating fees) and put out every communication we can," Gormley said at Wednesday's School Committee meeting.

Gormley emphasized this could only be done through grants, as the school budgeted is already stressed. She also pointed out a direct correlation between involvement in sports and activities with success in the classroom.

School Committee member Mary Kelly was cautious about saying the fees would be eliminated next year. "Given the financial reality, we don't want to set an expectation," she said.

The recently finished fall season marks the second year of the increased fees and Athletic Director Steve Traister believes that despite assistance programs, the rosters are taking a hit.

From the 2008-2009 season to 2009-2010 the fall participation dropped by eight athletes to 371. For this fall season, Milton High lost 17 more athletes. Winter participation dropped by 21 athletes in the first year of the increase, while the spring season lost just three participants. Sign-ups for the 2010-2011 winter season have not wrapped up yet and spring sign-ups will be held at the end of the winter.

The drop is being attributed to the fees, primarily because school enrollment has increased.

Traister explained that the district would never turn away an athlete, but those in need must self identify. The school system offers a variety of payment plans to help families.

Those students on the free or reduced lunch plan are also given a waiver. Students who are already enrolled in that program just need to fill out a secondary form, which can be found online, in Traister's officer or in the high school's main office.

Traister said about 11 percent of athletes, 112 students, took advantage of the free and reduced lunch waiver program over the three seasons last year.

The school system also has a cap for families at $1,250 or $1,500 for those who have a hockey player. Traister said while the cap allows for families with multiple athletes to play more than five seasons for that price, the cap is also the highest in the league.

Traister said schools like Weymouth pay $200 per season and $400 for hockey, while Braintree has a one-time fee of $100, regardless of how many sports the athlete plays. In Norwood, the payment slides depending on the number of sports a student plays. A one-sport athlete would pay $100 with an additional cost of $75 for a second sport and $50 for a third.

Outside of user fees, the school budget funds 33 percent of the athletics program. The largest contributors are the Walk-A-Thon, which is scheduled for February 12, 2011 and the banners in the Copeland Field House and the Milton High parking lot. Gate receipts, the Milton Boosters and individual team fundraisers also even out costs.