Parents dig deep for pay to participate fees

GRAFTON, Ohio - Parents are digging a little deeper for their kids to participate in athletics and band this year.

Just under half of the high schools who've responded to an Ohio High School Athletic Association survey say they charge students a pay-to-participate fee. Tim Stried, Director of Information Services, said that out of 828 member schools, 363 have responded and 44.9% have some form of the fee. "So far, the average cost is $140 per student, " Stried said. "The highest we have seen so far is $660."

In Lorain County, Midview High School football captain Ethan Pickering pays $650 to play three sports. The cost  is $550 for the first activity and $100 for two or more.

"I have a brother who plays golf and a sister playing tennis and it adds up," Pickering said.

Midview's pay-to-participate fee covers about one-third of what it costs the school district to maintain all of its sports and music programs. Superintendent John Kuhn hopes the fee can be reduced if voters approve a tax levy in November.