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Sports fees at least double for middle school

By JACKIE LEATHERMAN
Today's News-Herald
Published Tuesday, March 9, 2010 11:19 PM MST

The cost for seventh and eighth graders to participate in sports next school year will at least double.

The board unanimously voted to raise the sports fees from $50 to $100, and from $25 for intramural soccer to $75 at the middle school next year.

“We’ve kept (the fees) at $50, because we’ve said we don’t want to do this to kids,” said Thunderbolt Middle School Principal Paul Olson during the meeting. “Now we are stuck.”

Lake Havasu Unified School District board members voiced concern during their regular meeting Tuesday night about the fee increases eliminating some students from participating in the programs.

“All we are trying to do is keep the programs moving forward,” said board member Ross Hobday. “We have to cover what it costs us, or you don’t have it.”

Olson previously told Today’s News-Herald that tax credit donations given to the programs have decreased in recent years and are also now divided among more programs, while transportation costs for the athletic programs have increased. Middle school officials say the fees haven’t been raised in at least seven years.

“We do this with a very serious heart because we understand the very difficult economy,” said district Superintendent Gail Malay.

The board also officially approved Denise Miner as the Lake Havasu High School principal. Miner has been serving in the position since January, after former high school principal Kathy Cox resigned suddenly in December 2009, right before the winter break.

Miner has been the assistant principal at the high school for five years.

“Well, it feels good,” Miner said about the appointment. “I’ve been immersed in it for the last couple of months, so I guess it’s official now.”

Miner was one of two candidates interviewed for the position, according to LHUSD Assistant Superintendent Barbara Goodwin. Today’s News-Herald is waiting to review the resumes of the candidates.

The only mention of the pesticide-spraying incident at the high school March 3 came at the very end of the meeting when Malay thanked the administration for their leadership during that time.

LHHS closed its campus for two days, after a 16-year-old male student was arrested March 3 for allegedly spraying pesticide on the walls of one of the classroom buildings. He has been charged with disorderly conduct and endangerment.

A Havasu Regional Medical Center official has confirmed the hospital did not treat any patients due to illness stemming from the incident.

Today’s News-Herald expects to confirm today if students reported to the nurses office March 3 due to the incident, and the cost of the clean up of the building.

You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com

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Comments (3 comment(s))

bobo wrote on Mar 17, 2010 11:37 AM:

" I don't like to see this either. I think sports are very important to teach students teamwork and perseverance, but while we all have to tighten our belts in times like this, so must the School District. And extracurricular activities were the last to come, and should be the first to go. I hope the parents see the importance and can pick up the slack. "

Lostacos wrote on Mar 10, 2010 9:24 PM:

" Still only what 45% of what parents pay in the nation...AZ so in the dark ages. Time to play catch up....eh? "

dudu2 wrote on Mar 10, 2010 1:42 PM:

" Oh boy, the parents will have to pay more or substitute the activity with more parenting time. It is nothing wrong with that it called PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. You have to pay a copayment with the free Medicare. Some of the doctors in town don't take Medicare because it pays less what is their expenses cost. "

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