Athletic Fees Bump Funds Absorbing New Varsity Level Teams

The success of five Melrose High School club teams over the past five years has led administrators to recommend moving those teams to the varsity level, necessitating an increase in athletic fees next year to fund those teams.

Fees will increase by $25 per sport and the family cap will increase by $100, in the memo approved by School Committee on Tuesday night.

The committee also approved two other fee increases. The Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School summer enrichment program will increase from $100 to $120 per week, as the program lost money last year and the increase will allow the program to break even. Incoming 6th graders will also now be allowed to enroll in that program. Also, Education Stations field trip fees will increase from $10 to $15, but enrollment fees remain the same.

The athletic fee changes are as follows:

On Wednesday morning, Superintendent Joe Casey said it has been at least five years since any changes were made to the athletic fees.

"Sometimes when a sport comes on at the beginning, it becomes what's known as a club sport," Casey said. "We have to see if it's viable. The parents work to raise the funds so it becomes a sport in and itself. After a number of years, if it’s proven itself, we bring it in and give it varsity status."

That varsity status and subsequent funding from the school budget will be granted next year to girls freshman volleyball; girls varsity and junior varsity lacrosse; and boys varsity and junior lacrosse.

The girls ice hockey team is not moving to varsity status next year, as the cooperative program with Watertown has one year left on its agreement.

Casey said the fees do not raise money for the school district, but only cover the expenses of running the teams.

"The important thing to note is that our fees only cover about 24 percent of the costs of the athletic program," he said. "That will stay about the same. If we’re trying to keep roughly the same percentage, what would the cost be? So, every sport is going up $25 and the family cap up $100."

Casey added that the school district will work with families who may have trouble paying the fees, either by instituting a payment plan or reducing the fees, while students on free or reduced lunched automatically have athletic fees waived.