The following information was published earlier today on the Harford County Public Schools Web site:
On June 10, 2013, the Board of Education approved the school system’s operating budget for the upcoming school year with many cost-saving and revenue-generating strategies in order to balance the budget. As a result, athletic and activity fees were adopted to help pay the cost of the extracurricular program, such as salaries for coaches, transportation and officials’ fees, as well as activity sponsors’ stipends. The Board of Education set the fees at $25 per activity to participate in each elementary, middle or high school extracurricular activity for which the sponsor is paid a stipend and $50 per season to participate in any Junior Varsity (JV) or Varsity sport. Payments should not be made prior to release of the official roster for any given sport or activity as refunds will not be made available. Activity fees are not yet available for payment. Please await further direction from the activity sponsor once the school year commences.
Please access the links below for more information regarding types of programs for which a fee is charged, the payment process and the eligibility requirements for waivers of the fee.
For Athletics:
Payment:
To make a payment, visit mySchoolBucks.com. All payments must be made via credit card online. Payments should not be made prior to release of the official roster for any given sport or activity as refunds will not be made available.
• For the 2013-14 school year, the dates on which payment is due:
o Fall Season – September 3, 2013, except for golf, which will be due on 8/28/13
o Winter Season – 12/2/13
o Spring Season – 3/17/14
• All team members are required to pay the fee by the due date. Failure to pay will result in holding that participant out of contest(s) until payment is rendered.
• Waivers:
In order to be considered for a waiver, each student must fill out the Waiver Form and submit it to the school’s front office. A separate request must be made for every sport or activity in which the student participates.
o Students who have been approved for Free and Reduced Meals (FaRMS). Click here to access the FaRMS application.
o Students whose parent(s) are certificated personnel covered under the HCEA Negotiated Agreement to include teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, media specialists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech and hearing clinicians.
o Students whose parent is on active military duty.
• Any student not meeting their financial obligation will be notified by an administrator.
• The Principal or designee will notify the coach that the student is ineligible until payment is received or waiver approved.
Additional Provisions:
• Fees are nonrefundable under any circumstances, including injury and ineligibility. Payments should not be made until students have been included on an official team roster, or accepted to an activity.
• There is no family or individual cap.
• The payment of the fee is required of all students who are members of a team or activity roster; students are not guaranteed playing time by virtue of paying the fee.
• Every student desiring a fee waiver must complete the waiver request for each sport or activity in which he/she wishes to participate.
• Students who participate by providing a service to the team (managers, statisticians, and announcers) will not be charged the fee to participate.
• To access a printable version of the Participation Fee Procedure – click here.
• Any student who has a financial obligation two weeks after the first official play date will be suspended from the team until payment is rendered or waiver approved.
For Activities:
Payment:
To make a payment, visit mySchoolBucks.com (Activity fees are not yet available for payment. Please await further direction from the activity sponsor once the school year commences). All payments must be made via credit card online. Payments should not be made prior to release of the official roster for any given sport or activity as refunds will not be made available.
• The due date for payment for participation in an activity must be made within one week of the sponsor’s determination of the membership of the school activity for that year.
• All participants must pay by the due date. Failure to pay will result in the loss of the privilege to participate in the activity, or any associated practices, rehearsals, or meetings until payment is made.
• Waivers:
In order to be considered for a waiver, each student must fill out the Waiver Form and submit it to the school’s front office. A separate request must be made for every sport or activity in which the student participates.
o Students who have been approved for Free and Reduced Meals (FaRMS). Click here to access the FaRMS application.
o Students whose parent(s) are certificated personnel covered under the HCEA Negotiated Agreement to include teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, media specialists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech and hearing clinicians.
o Students whose parent is on active military duty.
• Any student not meeting their financial obligation will be notified by an administrator.
• The Principal or designee will notify the sponsor that the student is ineligible until payment is received or waiver approved.
Additional Provisions:
• Fees are nonrefundable under any circumstances, including injury and ineligibility. Payments should not be made until students have been included on an official team roster, or accepted to an activity.
• There is no family or individual cap.
• The payment of the fee is required of all students who are members of a team or activity roster; students are not guaranteed playing time by virtue of paying the fee.
• Every student desiring a fee waiver must complete the waiver request for each sport or activity in which he/she wishes to participate.
• Students who participate by providing a service to the team (managers, statisticians, and announcers) will not be charged the fee to participate.
• To access a printable version of the Participation Fee Procedure – click here.
Activities Subject to Fee:
High School
Drama (does not include Tech Crew)
Destination Imagination
Maryland Engineering Challenge
Intramurals (may include activities such as Powder Puff)
Forensics/Speech and Debate
School Literary Publication
Majorettes
FBLA
Academic Team
Future Teachers of America/FEA
FFA, VICA, HOSA, DECA
Envirothon
Sport for Life (one fee per year)
Middle School
Drama (does not include Tech Crew)
Destination Imagination
Maryland Engineering Challenge
Math Counts
Intramurals (one fee per year)
Elementary School
Drama
Destination Imagination
Maryland Engineering Challenge
Extracurricular Activities NOT Subject to Fee:
1. Activities that are part of the curriculum (band, orchestra, vocal music, high school yearbook, high school newspaper)
2. Students or groups who provide specific services to the school or community, or honor societies. (Examples include: National Honor Society, Student Government Association, SADD/STARS, Best Buddies, Tech Crew)
3. Please check with your child’s school for a school-specific list of activities involved in the fee structure.
It’s unfortunate the board forgot about the secretaries, custodians, cafeteria workers, inclusion helpers and administrators when deciding who they were going to exempt from having to pay to play. Would it have been that difficult to include ALL HCPS employees? Way to go. Way to sink our morale even further.
Welcome to class warfare.
Charging a fee for powder puff is pretty funny. A five minute activity during a pep rally rates a $50 fee?
If the drama students have to pay, the tech crew should as well. Its hard work, but they’re able to list it on their college applications.
I would hate to be a coach this season, the entitled parents are going to be even more pissy when their little superstar is benched after they paid a fee for him/her to be on the team.
You haven’t been to a powder puff event in a while and it falls under the $25 fee!
As a taxpayer I’m so sorry you didn’t get something else for free as a job perk. Go hang out at wawa and drink a coffee for an hour on us. Anything else we can do to turn that frown upside down?
And then add to that mix that they are going to start charging those very same employees Union dues when they are NOT covered under the HCEA Negotiated Agreement is infuriating!
Who other than teachers are required to pay dues to HCEA?
As of now, only teachers to my knowledge but there are talks that employees currently covered under the Union umbrella that do not currently pay dues will be made to pay those dues as well. If and when that happens I would certainly hope that HCPS has the forethought to exempt those employees as well under the Pay to Play contract.
All of the activities mentioned have been a part of American schools and our culture for how long? Why is it that we did in fact pay for all of this for decades through our taxes – the amount that was collected each year, without fundraisers or pay to play schemes, and now any money that was once dedicated to this piece of the scholastic experience evaporates? It wasn’t that long ago that driver’s ed was part of Health Ed curricula, now that is funded 100% by each family outside their tax bill. “Pay to play” now puts part of the cost (and watch it grow!) on each student that participates. Even their core classes – formerly the 3Rs – for students that push their academics – honors programs (formerly included in education) are evaporating by no choice of the parents or students, and AP takes over. Students/parents pay an extra fee for a test. Like many other things in this area – sure $50 won’t break most banks, however it’s not a matter of just $50. Add up all of the above for one student in two sports, taking driver’s ed, and having their bus route altered to cause them to drive 1/2 mile to a bus stop (walking is ok in good weather, but there will be needs here) and you are adding a lot onto an already steep tax bill.
You are exactly right! These “school programs” were funded by taxpayers money in the past. But now that money goes to so many other programs: some that have to do with education, many that don’t. Cell phones, subsidies, more people on unemployment, higher cost to maintain this and that. There is only so much taxpayer money to go around. Take a look around!!!!!! we are getting hit all over the place by new taxes and fees(that were put in by dems and reps alike). higher income taxes, tolls, these added fees on my property tax people-flush and rain, being pulled over for not wearing my seatbelt, an extra percent on sales tax, etc. IT IS EVERYWHERE!!!!! Extra taxes and fees and punishment fines(ie red light cameras) all have been on the increase for the 13 years on so…Why??!!!! What bothers me is these fees and taxes don’t bother most people —————-until it directly effects them. We need to fight against every single one……………………
How much is the company “myschoolbucks” getting to administer this program? I am ashamed of the people who made these decisions. What were they thinking? Do they really think every person has access to a computer? No I am not talking about the parents who CAN afford it but there are many out there who are just getting by. Way to go Harford County. You have really stuck it to the students and families that now will not be able to do things because they don’t have the money to participate. Maybe they can hang out and do nothing after school. The school board in their wisdom is taking away the activities and things that make up a community and help keep students and parents connected to the school.
Oh and by the way for the people who don’t know it, parents whose kids play sports ALREADY pay to watch their kids because it cost admission to go to a stadium or basketball court. I guess $10 is nothing if you work for school system but for many people (especially ones who don’t have jobs) it is a real stretch.
Thank you Kate – I forgot about that little finger in the eye to the parents. Even JV games and soccer games – the only people at these games are the student’s parents. Let’s not forget who has already paid for every single building, field, bleacher, walkway, salary, etc., etc. at our schools – us, the taxpayer.
It’s not just parents of current students that have paid for the bleachers and walkways – there are far more taxpayers in Harford County who do not have children in the current system than those that do – they’ve been paying for these things all along just as you have and will continue to do so. However budgets are tight, jobs are hard to find, costs are up as are taxes and fees for lots of things – how’s about you pay to teach your own kid drama and quit acting like it’s the end of the world that you might just not get a free ride on this one.
That would be fine Money Tree, how about we keep the entire tax bill that goes to “public education” and I’ll send my kids elsewhere. A “free ride” – you have to be kidding? I haven’t missed a tax payment yet and I bet you haven’t either. That’s the point – the money is going into a trough and it’s sucked out of it for things other than education!! Enough is enough.
Sta off my roads and stop using my police and fire services
Roads are paid for by gasoline and diesel taxes, and there will always be some level of taxation for essential services such as police and military. Note that in many rural communities, you must pre-purchase a membership from the local fire department in order to be fully covered by their services, without a membership they’ll let any involved structure burn to the ground while only stopping the fire from spreading to other buildings or going in to rescue trapped people.
My school bucks replaced Cafe Prepay. It is the same vendor who manages lunch payments via credit cards. As far as computer access it is free at the public library.
If you don’t have a job you probably qualify for a waiver via FARMS.
Finally the taxpayers do not pay for everything. The booster clubs pay for many things found around stadiums such as lights and field upgrades. Some sports have coaches who coach for free. Primarily because they like it and many times spend money too. None of that get’s covered by this. Sports and activities are expensive to run.
CDEV – sure the booster clubs pick up some of the “extras” but they did not fund the construction of turf fields all over the county, nor did they build the schools/facilities. It has gotten to the point where soccer players pay for their shorts or shirts, yet football players pay little or nothing for a very expensive uniform. As pointed out by others we have kids participating in activities that cost little yet the brain trust wants everyone to pay their defined fee. They will soon find out that they robbed so much from the coffers that even this fee is not enough. What then? Raise the fee? So little thought and consideration goes into this policy. Whether your kid plays or not, you have to realize that sports of all kinds is a huge part of the education process. Sure it’s fun, etc., but it is one of the few places left that kids learn about winning and losing, and real teamwork. Outside of sports, these elements of learning are nearly absent – not allowed. It bucks the reality these kids will live in as adults and the sporting fields are an important piece of that education.
So I come back to what I said earlier – this was 100% funded for many decades. What has changed? Why? Where did the money go? Yes, the cost of sports has increased…so has every one of our tax bills. Is anyone thinking at all about how we have always paid for this?
What has changed? HCPS and the BOE are beginning to feel – finally – that they must cut the waste but they still won’t do it so they hatched this little ploy to deflect attention and anger to County Government in a power play to get more funding.
Go ahead and blame County Government if you believe there is no waste in HCPS. If you believe there is waste in HCPS then demand that it be cut so pay-to-play and the silly transportation changes are reversed. It really is as simple as that. The BOE and HCPS must be shown that they are ultimately going to be responsive to the people who pay the bills – the taxpayers and parents. Right now they view us as just a poor dumb milk cow that refuses to give as much as they want.
Amen Jaguar Judy! Corruption has no limits.
Do you also believe there is waste in county government?
Who gave the Board of Education Taxing Authority? Pathetic on some many levels. Some many administrators and so few tax dollars to spare. We really need to start showing up at the B.O.E. dog and pony shows and started voicing some real displeasure.
Then let’s peel all those activities away from the school and get rid of them – problem solved…you find a drama teacher for little Molly in the private sector and see how far $25.00 bucks gets you.
Something tells me little Molly doesn’t need any lessons in drama, dad has that covered…..
You could send little Molly to the Harford Arts Centre after Craig builds it.
Money Tree makes sense.
Disband all extra curricular activities and go purchase them in the private sector.
If you throw in the education as well, many would be happy to walk away from “public indoctrination.”
As long as it supports your particular stifled ignorant view of indoctrination
Because, I think I would rather decide what my children are taught and who teaches them rather than HCPS and you. And I can tell you I am at least as qualified to make the decision. The only way that HCPS and Maryland can coerce parents to put their kids in HCPS is to charge me whether I do or not.
I honestly do not believe this pay to play is all that horrendous when you consider the most of the parents of athletes have paid much more for their child to play in the Parks and Rec system.
I personally have paid hundreds for my sons to play several different sports through Parks and Rec, from when they were in Pre-school to ninth grade in addition to travel teams, indoor lacrosse teams and have shelled out much, much more money for them to play lacrosse at the college level where you had to buy the uniform shorts, sweats, helmets, pads, gloves plus the additional sticks in case your head broke during a practice or game for a major university’s club teams. All this is in addition to the private music lessons we gave them plus purchasing the instruments. My husband and I, at the time did not have huge salaries, combined we brought home less than 60K, but we made priorities in certain areas and did not give our kids all the new gadgets/toys /video systems and cars but gave them lifelong learning experiences instead. Parents have to set their priorities as to where to place their money and what truly down the road will benefit their child more and be truly realistic.
I recently asked my friends and relatives who live in other Maryland counties and other states if they had a” Pay to Play” fee. In Washington County, it is $55.00 for sports and at least one high school that I know of has a $160 fee for marching band, Montgomery County charges $35.00 for all extracurricular activities. A school system in the Augusta, GA area charges football players $150.00 to be on the team and has a band fee of $125.00 and those in the Flag Squad/Guard pays an additional fee for their flags and uniforms each year. Another school system near Cincinnati has a per child fee of $550.00 (that if five hundred fifty and not a typo) for all sports and band. I know for a fact that one high school that system that has 2600 students places 250 musicians on the field and has a guard of 40. In this school system there is no discount for anyone.
I am not a follower of the theme,” if someone else is doing it, it is alright for us”; however, in order to make it in this bad economy and to give our children everything that parents demand they receive, the money is going to have to come from somewhere. Just be thankful that you are not in the Lakota School district in Ohio or Augusta, GA. where all funding for everything outside the classroom has been totally cut or even Washington County, Maryland.
@So, Unfortunately you are speaking a truth most do not want to hear. The warning signs have been there for the past few years but people ignored them. If funding from county government does not change (more dollars to the school system – which is not likely to occur) the school system will be forced to make even more unsettling changes. Many people on this blog like to point out declining enrollment numbers. The simplest way to address this issue would be to close some schools. While that may be the fiscally responsible thing to do just imagine what the outcry would be.
they are penalizing the kids that are participating in extra-curricular activities. did anyone consider simply charging a flat fee per kid? if the money collected is supposedly going toward the general fund, why then are they only collecting it from sports and clubs? makes no sense.
It’s easy to see why things are a mess – “okay to just pay more because…” or “just pay a flat fee” – does anyone look at their tax bill and understand what it’s supposed to pay for? Does anyone understand that for 30, 40, 50 years ALL of these things were easily covered with a little help for a local booster club? This is the point! The Local, State and Federal govs all continue to make a mockery out of our tax code while they rob us blind. So let the cowards establish a tax code that covers these things – let the citizens debate what should and should not be covered and do it in the open. Now we have Cafe Prepay and HS Athletic directors or the BOE leveling “taxes through fees” to all of us! It is insane – but if you like this idea, you’re going to love what the future holds. Just like the original “bay restoration fee” that started at $30 and now costs each of us $60, this too will rise like the sun!
I believe that this will also adversely affect the sport team fundraisers. If you are like me, most of the time you just write a check to cover their “obligation” under the fundraiser. Having already shelled out $50 for them to pay, there leaves little incentive to put more money in.
You are so right! We should be getting high school sports fundraising stuff today. Into the recycling bin it will go. I will donate my time to help out at events but I am not buying Corbis, Candles, Candy, etc. anymore.
I understand where you are coming with the flat fee and wanting to ignore the fundraising; however that doesn’t work . In the school system in Ohio that charges $550.00 per activity there is still a great need for fundraising. They need to raise funds for the band uniforms that cost about $200 a piece, plus to replace large instruments that can be up to $2500 . They need to pay for the band to get to parades, competitions, the schools were they are adjudicated by professionals musicians, which is a band’s form of a HSA or a county final exam, and the list goes on and on. The one band of which I have some little knowledge sold mattresses last year as a fundraiser to replace worn out uniforms and to get the 275 piece marching band to New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade for which they were selected to perform over hundreds of other bands that submit applications to participate it. They have to raise funds because their school system can not longer fund any sports or music program and either the parents and community help pay out of their pockets there will be no extra curricular programs at all. That system is cutting back on teachers , instructional materials, etc.
In the Augusta , GA school, the band runs the snack bar at games for the same reason, because the school system can no longer afford to pay for instruments, music and any uniform , along with uniforms for the sports teams.
We need to wake up, if very wealthy Montgomery Co., Maryland has been forced to charge fees, where their funding for schools is in the top of the state and probably nation where the tax rates are much higher that we pay, how in the world can you think that we, the parents don’t have to support our programs through the Pay to Play fee and fundraisers.
My oldest son, not only paid tuition at the major university that he attended in this state, but we also paid a high activities fee that was mandatory; however he had to come up with about $500 to be a member of the Universities Club Lacrosse team. Yes, we paid a large activities fee to the University, and most of you would have the idea that that money cover all activities. It did when my husband and I attended this school in the early seventies and it isn’t now. Our parents or ourselves paid extra “dues” to participate in various clubs, organizations or activities then and we do the same now. In this case, this University receives federal, state, corporate and alumni funding and grants; however that does not cover all the extras.
It is the sign of the times and the economy is not going to get any better for the foreseeable future. We choose to have children, we choose to have them participate in everything; therefore we need to pay for what they do. The Board of Education and Harford County are charged with the responsibility to educated our youth to success pass 12th grade but not to prepare them for the NFL, NBA or to participate in a club. Those are extra luxuries that are wants and not needs, just like the XBox, Nintendo , DVD player in your home or your boat in your yard! The money needs to be directed towards the classrooms not the playing fields.
Thank you stating the obvious. Unfortunately your clarity of thought will be lost on many if not most of the people that comment on the site.
I’m going to lose 4-6 good players because of these fees. I have already talked to some kids this offseason and they are NOT able to afford these fees. They have already indicated that “they aint filling out no ****** form” so i will lose them.
These kids are gifted athletes and it is unfortunate that this gift will now be wasted. These kids don’t got much, and I’m afraid they will now be back on the streets.
I will personally let the board know what happens to these lost souls.
Here is a great idea coach. Tell these kids you will cover their fees and when they make the big time they can pay you back 1000x your cost cause you really believe when it comes to their sport they have what it take to be a professional.
If that doesn’t work out maybe you could help them in subjects the real world operates in so they might find a decent paying job where they can get married have 2 kids and and a dog living in the suburbs like the rest of us.
If you are right on their sports abilities you stand to make millions, so do they really have what it takes?
Disgusted,
Are you a retired B.O.E. member, or just a plain old member? I’ve never seen you post anything remotely intelligent?
Sorry if my posts are over your head Big Mac I’ll try to keep them with in your realm of intelligence….
Want fries with that? First window please…..
Disgusted – Like I said, you are just a member…..
And you are a big mac.
I see this as an opportunity for other students to make the team that would otherwise get cut. Those kids also have something to offer and as a good coach I know that you will do everything within your power to see they benefit from their opportunity to participate. You may lose some but will gain others. Who knows you may even find a diamond in the rough. Unfortunately financial issues have always limited some in our society and will continue to do so. How many students don’t go to college because they can’t afford it or do not get into the college of their choice because it is too expensive? We all know that life is not always fair and can sometimes be harsh or even cruel. I’ll close with that “old saw,” where there is a will there is a way.
For those that gave my comments a thumbs down would you care to offer an explanation?
Despite all of the hullabaloo I have a new to high schooler who is playing a sport and performing in marching band. She has earned the course load of all honors and an AP class. She is taking drama as well. I have been to the high school a lot, despite working full time, and school has barely started. Yes there are some expenses but they are minimal in the grand scheme of things. There are adults all over that campus supervising and mentoring kids. They are not “done” their work day at 2:30. It’s a well run community. Public schools are the best thing we’ve got going.
With that activity list you owe $150 for the activity fees plus the fee for each AP exam. Add that to your tax bill. Also add the rain tax (new, out of thin air), Chesapeake Bay restoration fee (up 100%), new gas taxes ($0.20/gallon), new toll costs (up 100%), new alcohol tax (up 50%), etc, etc. and what do you get? Doesn’t anyone get it? You pay taxes to fund running this State and County, then sit back and take fees to cover all the shortcoming and “extras” that the bureacrats create yet never seem to cut or eliminate! I don’t happen to have a cash tree in my yard, nor do I have a cash cow. My income is what it is, not X plus some amount that I feel might help me and my family. Our County is abysmal at managing its budget and we the minions seem to be just fine with that – I’m not.
Do you have kids attending HCPS?
You’re right, people don’t get it FED UP. Most just don’t care. Agree or disagree with people on this forum, at least they are somewhat involved. today’s society is mainly concerned with becoming FB stars. Why should they care though: all these fees and taxes are good for the children and security. And you know what; you income is X. X=Money you earn(A) minus Money the man takes from you(B) and as A goes up–so does B.
“Public schools are the best thing we’ve got going.”
Indeed they are. That “free” education that we receive has never been free. Someone has always had to pay for our schooling. Invested/participating parents such as you have always been the backbone of a child’s education.
They design and build schools based on a certain amount of students in a particular community, but then issue an over abundance of building permits and the new school is immediately overcroweded and surrounded by portable classrooms.
Is it that one hand designing the schools doesn’t know the other hand is issuing too many building permits? Or are they purposely issuing an abundance of building permits to generate more tax revenue, and still skimping on the sizes of the schools?
Either way, there seems to be a lack of responsibility with how our money is spent.
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