The Yelm Community Schools Board of Directors will wait a few more weeks before deciding on the future of athletics, pay-to-pay and facility usage fees for the 2024-25 school year.
The district has already made $8 million in cuts of the $15 million needed to be reduced after the failure of its educational programs and operations levy and has discussed increasing athletic fees to help bridge the gap. Directors are expected to vote on potential increases at their next scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 18, after requesting more information on Thursday, June 27.
The board will have three decisions to make, including whether to increase pay-to-play fees, reduce current athletic programs and increase fees for outside user groups to use facilities.
Superintendent Chris Woods presented three potential fee increase scenarios for secondary pay-to-play fees during the meeting. Woods told the directors that, with a similar level of participation in athletics, the district’s current pay-to-play fees bring in $85,000.
Scenario 1: Raise high school fees from $50 to $100 and high school football fees to $150; raise middle school fees from $30 to $50.
Scenario 2: Raise high school fees from $50 to $150 and high school football fees to $200; raise middle school fees from $30 to $75.
Scenario 3: Raise high school fees from $50 to $200 and high school football fees to $250; raise middle school fees from $30 to $100.
The figures assume similar participation with no cuts in offerings for athletics, Woods said.
Directors expressed support for the third scenario, as board member Casey Shaw said the fees are similar to what members of youth sports teams pay in Yelm. The third scenario also includes a $25 increase in high school associated student body (ASB) card fees from $50 to $75. Directors requested more information on how much the third scenario would save the district and cost for families, as well as for more time.
While specific reductions to current athletic programs were not discussed during the meeting, the board previously discussed raising fees for facility usage to match what neighboring districts charge.
In other board news, directors voted unanimously to raise secondary and adult meal prices for the 2024-25 school year, a move that is unrelated to the mass reductions in the district as directors evaluate prices annually.
Meals will be free for every elementary school in the district starting the next school year. The board approved the following meal price increases:
Breakfast for grades six through 12 from $2 to $2.25
Lunch for grades six through 12 from $3.65 to $3.95
Adult breakfast remains $3
Adult lunch from $4.75 to $5
The board also approved a $10 annual cost that will serve as assurance for technology, particularly Chromebook laptops, in the case of accidental damage or the need for hardware repair.
After an executive session, the board approved Woods’ contract for three more years, running from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027. During its July 18 meeting, the board will vote on a revision to Policy 5310P, which includes Woods’ recommendation to not increase his salary for the 2024-25 school year.
