The Dexter Board of Education has scheduled a public forum at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at the Dexter High School media center in order to hear comments from all community stakeholders regarding pay-to-participate athletics.
At the July 22 Board of Education meeting, board members voted unanimously to pause the discussion of pay-to-participate athletics until at least two community forums are held, per recommendations from both the Athletics Ad Hoc and Finance Committees.
The September 10th forum will include a brief explanation of school funding, athletics funding, pay-to-participate history and other relevant information, including handouts. Following the presentation will be a discussion period.
HALF OF MICHIGAN SCHOOLS USE PARTICIPATION FEES
Currently, the pay to participate fee structure for Dexter high school athletics is $250 for the 1st sport, $150 for the 2nd sport and $100 for the 3rd sport, with a family cap of $700 per year. Middle school athletic fees are slightly less per sport, but structured similarly with the same family cap.
Before the pause, the Ad Hoc Athletics Committee, supported by the BOE Finance Committee, had recommended that the high school athletic fee structure be changed to single tier – $250 per sport, with no family cap.
Pay-to-participate athletics has garnered much debate on social media since its appearance on the BOE agenda in May. In response to the many questions asked at board meetings and online, Dexter Community Schools created an FAQ sheet for the community.
A second community forum has not yet been scheduled, the format of which will be decided based on the feedback from the September 10th meeting.
