Parents and guardians of athletes at Enumclaw and Thunder Mountain middle schools will see a $25 jump in athletic fees when they go to register their child in August.
The cost of transportation to the middle school athletic programs has put severe strain on athletic budgets, requiring schools to tap into the building and Associated Student Body (ASB) budgets more than in the past, Randy Stocker, district business manager, wrote in a memo to the Enumclaw School Board, which approved the increase at its regular July 20 meeting. In an effort to offset those costs and to align with other districts, he noted, the district proposed athletic fee increases at the middle school.
In 2008-09, Enumclaw’s middle school athletic fee was $25, total, with an extra $30 for football.
In comparison, Stocker pointed out, White River charges $55 plus an extra $65 for football, while Sumner charges $15 per season; Tumwater is $30 and Snoqualmie Valley is $50, with an additional $100 for football.
The board adopted an increase for EMS and TMMS of $50, total, with $35 extra for football.
Enumclaw’s middle schools offer four sports seasons with boys baseball, girls fastpitch and co-ed track in the fall; girls basketball and wrestling in the winter; girls soccer and boys basketball, mid-winter and volleyball and football in the spring.
Stocker also provided the board with participation numbers. Between the two middle schools, which have approximately 1,000 students, 302 athletes participated in at least one sport; 214 students participated in two sports; 124 in three sports and 37 take part in all four seasons.
Board President Cathy Dahlquist said she was impressed with the turnout and would like to see the district continue to provide the opportunity to students.
The complete list of fees for the 2009-10 school year is available with this story on The Courier-Herald Web site at www.courierherald.com.
