The budget shortfall this past year made this new cost termed the “Activity Fee” more of a need than a necessity and was implemented at the start of this school year. Athletic Director for the Regional School Unit (RSU) 24, Jay Brown, feels that this fee was needed to continuing funding all the athletic programs.
“We were able to keep sports, and different kind of sports in this years budget by using the activity fee and the money that’s raised to keep the sports going,” said Brown.
Currently Ellsworth High School offers the sports of soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, wrestling, cheerleading, cross country, indoor and outdoor track, volleyball, and a newly created football program that debuted earlier this year. Brown would not divulge numbers as to how far the budget shortfall was, but he did hint that the fee was helping to cover deficit.
Some members in the community feels this fee is a burden to those in a lower income bracket compared to others, and that an added cost is unjust since taxpayers already pay to send children in the community to school. The fee itself though does have stipulations for those who can not afford the five dollar fee. This stipulation is based on whether the student is on a reduced lunch plan, which would reduce the cost to a few dollars per sport. The stigma associated with a reduced lunch plan already has some trying to avoid it as much as possible though.
With the fee in place, some fear families might not be able to afford to let their children play sports. Also with this thinking comes the thought the athletics are a way for young students to grow individually and this may deter some from attempting extra curricular activities. Ellsworth Elementary School soccer coach Paul Lock feels that sports are very important to the growth of all children.
“[Athletics] build [students‘] character. If it builds their character, it makes them into a better human being not only in school, but out of school as well,” said Lock.
Though there are mixed reactions among community members, parents and teachers, it appears that this activity fee is here to stay at RSU 24. Ellsworth school teacher Mary Jordan, who is also a mother of a high school senior at Ellsworth, thinks that the benefits of the fee outweigh the costs and the program will be better as a result.
“I don’t think it’ll hurt the athletics, I hope that it stays. I think it is an important part,” said Carter.
The lasting legacy of the activity fee will be known in the years to follow, but Brown assures that athletics are not going away and will continue to be a vital part of Ellsworth High School.
“[Athletics] are here to stay. I don’t think there’s any question,” said Brown.
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