Meridian Athletes Face Pay To Play

Jeremy Bergquist knew there was going to be a noticeable decline in the number of student-athletes at Meridian High School this year. As the school’s athletic director, Bergquist began projecting a lower turnout for sports after the Meridian School District announced it was implementing a $110 pay-for-play fee at all high schools this year and a $90 fee at middle schools, one of a series of steps the district took to bridge a $22 million budget gap. The fees, designed to cover half of the $1.6 million the district pays out annually in coaching salaries, are charged for the first two sports a student plays. … Football, which had 120 players last year, is down to 90. Boys soccer has dropped from 35 to 16, girls volleyball from 50 to 41 and cross-country from 40 to 27/ Joe Estrella , Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Would you pay $110 to the school district for a child to play sports?