Athletic ticket prices became a bit of a quandary for the Pleasant Valley School Board.

Raising the prices was first suggested by the athletic director James Korcienski at the school board’s workshop meeting on Aug. 13. But the result didn’t stick at the voting meeting Thursday night.

At the workshop meeting, Korcienski brought up the increase because of increasing costs for officials and other athletic related items. He said Stroudsburg upped their prices to $8, with students free with identification, and away students $6. The price at the gate is $10 for adults and $7 for away students.

Ticket prices at Pleasant Valley are $5 for an adult, $3 for visiting students, and free for the district’s students with identification. Korcienski said the prices at East Stroudsburg North and South and Pocono Mountain East and West are the same as at Pleasant Valley, but Pocono Mountain absorbs the processing fee for online purchases. Pleasant Valley does not absorb the processing fees.

“My recommendation is that we keep the current prices on our presale prices (online) at $5 and $3,” Korcienski said. “My recommendation is that an hour before our games, we move those prices up to $8 and $6 online, and gate fees for cash, $8 and $6.”

Director Matthew Walters said he was concerned about doubling the price for visiting students, but he was fine with increasing the price for adults.

Director John Gesiskie was fine with increasing the prices, but just a little bit at a time. He would rather see small increases than no increase now, and a large increase later.

“The fall is when you make the most money through football and winter and basketball, after that, you are losing money, including wrestling and all the spring sports,” Gesiskie said.

Neither Walters nor Gesiskie were at the meeting on Thursday night.

At the workshop meeting earlier in the month, business manager Tammy Smale said that Arbiter, the service the school district uses to pay the officials, has an increase yearly of 2 1/2% to 3% over the next five years. The supplemental contracts assistants and other positions involved in sports have a 2% increase yearly until the contract term ends.

“If we do small increments now and do them each year or every two years, we will be able to keep up with the increase from everywhere else,” Smale said.

Director Norman Burger suggested that online prices go to $6 for adults and $4 for visiting students, and gate prices go to $8 for adults and $6 for visiting students.

After further discussion, the school board decided to go with $6 for adults and $4 for visiting students whether purchased at the gate or online. It was to be put on the agenda for voting meeting.

At the voting meeting on Thursday, Superintendent James Konrad asked the board to consider making the ticket price at the gate $7 for adults, because he said the goal was to encourage online ticket purchases. Some school board directors suggested raising it to $8, while other directors voiced concerns about raising it that much.

In a vote on whether or not to amend the agenda to make the ticket price $8 for an adult ticket at the gate, four directors voted yes — Sue Kresge, Diane Serfass, Ryan O’Keefe and Robert Clark. Three voted no — Denise Hopely, Janet Dooner, and Norm Burger.

With the agenda amended for the new ticket price of $8, the item ultimately passed.

The 2026-2027 athletic ticket sale prices for varsity football, varsity wrestling, and junior varsity/varsity combo basketball are:

• Single Ticket Sale — online — Adult, $6; PVSD students are free with identification; and a visiting student, $4. At the gate, an adult ticket is $8, with student prices remaining the same whether purchased online or at the gate;

• Passes and Membership — Single Sport Season Pass, the number of home games minus one home game; and Yearly Sports Season Pass, the number of home games minus $20 discount;

• Special Packages — Four Ticket Multi-Sport Pass, four home game tickets to any sport for the price of three games.

O’Keefe’s athletic report, which is separate from the ticket price topic in the business report, he said, “Our student-athletes have been working hard, competing with pride, and representing our schools and community in outstanding ways. I encourage everyone to take some time this season to attend a game, match, meet, or event and see firsthand the exciting things our students are accomplishing. Your support in the stands means a great deal to our athletes, coaches, and families, and it helps create the positive school spirit that makes our community so special.”

The next home football game for the Bears is Sept. 10 against Pottsville Area High School.