NANKIN — Parents and fundraising volunteers sought transparency at the Mapleton Board of Education meeting Thursday.
Attendees urged board members to reconsider a new athletic participation policy.
Students and families are required to pay a minimum 50 percent of each student’s athletic participation fee. The participation fee for all high school sports is $400, excluding cheerleading which is $200. Teams may use fundraising money to cover the remaining balance. The policy took effect July 1 for the 2026-27 school year.
Deadlines for payments are placed throughout the school year. Students with unpaid balances are prohibited from practicing or competing until requirements are met.
In previous years, athletic fundraisers could raise enough money to cover the full fee for students. Fundraising organizers question this change and how it might affect future fundraising initiatives.
Megan Dennison, a PTO member, parent and athletic fundraising organizer, expressed concerns about how the changes could affect families’ ability to participate in sports.
Dennison shared a message she received from a parent who had already completed fundraising efforts under the previous system.
“A parent reached out to me and said, ‘We did everything we could to make sure we sold enough to cover his sports fee of $400,'” Dennison said. “What’s my other $200 going to?”
Dennison said she believes the concern is not only about the cost, it’s about effectively communicating change to families.
“Our goal is not to criticize. Our goal is to work together to find a solution to keep athletics accessible for every student who wants to participate,” Dennison said.
Many families learned about the changes after fundraising efforts were already underway.
“Too often, policies seem to be implemented with little or no notice to the families they directly affect. Parents should not learn about major financial changes at this last minute,” Dennison said.
District Treasurer Katy Wiley said the changes were driven by the district’s financial outlook and the growing cost of athletics. She said the athletic department operates separately from the district’s general fund.
The district still transferred $256,390.91 from the general fund this year to cover athletic expenses. Athletic participation fees cover only a portion of the district’s athletic expenses, according to Wiley.
The district collected $101,237.50 in athletic fees while paying $193,510.98 in coaching and transportation salaries, plus $38,279.14 in benefits, according to the treasurer.
Board member Kyle Gordon said coaches approached the board because fundraising demands had become overwhelming.
“They’re drowning in having to fundraise,” Gordon said. “The vast majority asked us to put some guidelines in place in here as a board to help them survive so that they’re not constantly, 365 days, having to fundraise.”
Board President Vince Hartzler said the plan will most likely be released in the spring, with a few changes and more communication.
“It’s a community. We have to protect our coaches a little bit too, but we also understand where you (parents/fundraising volunteers) are coming from. You weren’t expecting this,” Hartzler said.
The district expects to lose more than $500,000 this fiscal year and more than $1 million next year because of changes to state funding, according to the board.
Financial pressure has forced the district to discuss eliminating sports, but Mapleton is working to avoid that option.
“We’re trying to keep sports around,” Wiley said. “We’re trying so hard because we know how important it is here at Mapleton.”
