Schools
Pay-To-Play Fee Still Generating Buzz Around Harford
Harford County Public Schools will charge students to participate in extra-curricular activities in the upcoming school year.
By Sean Welsh
A week after fall sports started in Harford County, the pay-to-play fee is still a hot-button item with parents, coaches and community leaders.
The fee, which charges students $50 per sport and $25 per club or activity in high school, was put into place this summer.
County Executive David Craig is diametrically opposed to the fee and wonders if high school athletes will be guaranteed playing time like kids in parks and recreation sports or Little League baseball.
"I pay. Do I get to play? If I get cut, do I get my money back? I get hurt, do I get the money back? If I’m not the lead actor? I have all kinds of issues with that," Craig said in an interview with Patch last week.
Craig thinks it opens a proverbial can of worms with school funding.
"Does this mean in the future they could charge tuition? Or for books students get? Or they charge for transporting a child to school now? I believe there are legislative problems with that fee," he said.
Fallston wrestling coach Kevin Medicus told ABC2 News that he fears some students simply won't participate: "I'm hoping that it doesn't come down to we're losing a kid because this pay to play rule that's going into effect."
In the same report, Harford County Board of Education president Nancy Reynolds said the fee was put into place as a means to create the least possible impact on students in the classroom.
Read more of ABC2's report and see video here.
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