Jim Thorpe Area School District officials said Wednesday night they are revisiting a facility use fee structure adopted in June following a plea from its local booster club to lower costs.

The updated facility usage policy introduced a tiered system that categorizes facility use and imposes corresponding fees. Under the plan, the Olympian Booster Club, which oversees youth programs in various sports, is now asked to pay a seasonal fee that varies based on what field, court or facility it is using, in addition to fees for custodians, security and the insurance it already had to provide to put on the events.

Jim Thorpe Superintendent Robert Presley emphasized that the goal was not to generate profit but to ensure the district’s taxpayers are not burdened by the cost of supporting non-district events.

“We’re not trying to make money at all,” Presley said. “We’re going to look at this again and make sure we’re getting to a net-zero, meaning we shouldn’t be making money, but we also shouldn’t be losing money.”

Presley said the district’s administration would have a recommendation for the school board in October regarding any proposed changes to the fee structure.

Booster Club backers argued Wednesday night that the fees are too steep, particularly for youth sports programs.

“I’m here tonight to request that the school board drastically lower the fees associated with facility usage,” Larry McDaniel, booster club president, told the board. “It’s the right thing to do for the kids of the Jim Thorpe area.”

Impact of the revised fee structure

Under the new tiered system, district-affiliated groups and local emergency services fall under “Level One” and are exempt from facility fees, except for stadium use. However, youth sports groups like the Olympian Booster Club are placed in “Level Two,” which means they are required to pay seasonal fees for the use of certain facilities outside of school hours. These fees, for example, include $200 per season for using the high school gym, $750 for the high school stadium, and $100 for Penn Kidder Elementary’s field. If the high school stadium lights are used, it costs Level Two groups $150 per use.

Additionally, custodial fees, which include $50 per hour, and security fees, which range from $28 to $35 per hour, also apply for events outside normal hours.

Booster club officials said of the fee structure is not revised, an additional $3,000 will be needed for football and cheer, and additional expenses for wrestling and volleyball.

There would be a slight increase in admissions to games, from $4 to $5, and concession stand fees will need to increase. The wrestling team, the club added, would need to raise an additional $1,150.20 in order to host two meets.

Pleas from parents, players and volunteers

McDaniel wasn’t the only community member to speak at the meeting.

Sixth grade student and booster club football player Jayce St. Hill gave one of the most compelling, off the cuff speeches on Wednesday.

“This program keeps kids off the streets from doing drugs, drinking and smoking,” St. Hill said. “It’s not just football. This club supports basketball, wrestling, cheerleading and other stuff. There are lots of kids in this district that can’t afford stuff and we should lower the prices so these kids can have fun, stay off the streets, and do other things that they want to do.”

Katie Knopf, another booster club volunteer, also voiced her concerns.

“For our program, we strive to provide exactly what any parent would want for their kids: safety and fun,” she said. “There’s no question that we spend funds for safety first. But the amount of money we have to spend because of the approved fee structure is disheartening.”

Knopf said the booster club works tirelessly to ensure the children’s experience is enjoyable, noting that funds are often spent on enriching experiences like trips to pumpkin patches or water parks.

She also underscored the volunteer commitment required to run the program, adding, “We already struggle to get volunteers who donate their time. Please don’t make it harder for those of us who do donate.”

The financial strain the fees would put on youth sports programs was a recurring theme throughout the public comment portion of the meeting. Many parents and volunteers expressed their worry that the increased fees would drive up registration costs, making participation in youth sports unattainable for some families.

“Increasing that fee structure will ultimately increase our registration fees,” Alex Vitti, treasurer of the booster club and one of the program’s football coaches, said. “What does that cause? Numerous kids will not be able to afford these programs.”

Historical context

Since its founding in 1967, Vitti said, the Olympian Booster Club has been a major supporter of local sports. He noted that the organization views itself as a “direct partner” of the school district, as its programs serve the district’s youth, many of whom are children of district taxpayers.

“We wear Jim Thorpe Olympians across our chest,” he said. “We represent Jim Thorpe with everything we do.”

Vitti asked the board how much youth sports cost the Jim Thorpe Area School District in 2023? Presley said the district could compile that information and get back to him.

School board member Pearl Sheckler said during Wednesday’s meetings that she backs youth sports, having volunteered herself for many years, but knows the district’s fields and facilities come at a cost to taxpayers.

Years ago, she said, parents were forced to rent private fields for their children’s sports practices before the district had its own.

“We had to rent a field at Summit Hill,” Sheckler said. “We took our own lawnmowers and cut grass in the fields to have practice.”

Lori R. Cooper contributed to this article.