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Jackson eliminates 'pay to play' fees

Posted at 8:07 AM, Aug 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-26 08:21:53-04

Jackson Public Schools have slashed all pay-to-play fees for students, a first for this school year.

In the past, families would pay $50 per student per sport.

Plus, the fee wasn't just for athletes, anyone involved in student activities, like theatre, had to pay to participate.

Looking over the budget last year, the district saw that pay-to-play fees made up about $25,000, what Superintendent Jeff Beal calls a drop in the bucket.

"I think we can find a better way to generate $25,000, than to put it on the pocket books of our constituents," says Beal.

So, the district decided to cut that fee.

"I want to pull down the roadblocks that would keep kids from participating both in athletics, but in the academic side of it too, from our clubs and our academic games," says Beal.

It's a decision the district hopes will get more kids involved, and have an effect in the classroom.

"We know that students who are active and who are involved in...sports or who are involved in after school activities are much more successful academically," says Beal.

The high school posted about this on its Facebook page and got a huge response.