Is it time for Grafton students to pay athletic fees?

Starting in middle school, Grafton students pay $200 each to ride the bus to and from school. If a high school pupil opts to drive to school instead, it’s $200 for a parking pass.

With Grafton schools — and the town itself — facing budget challenges over the next few years, including multiple capital improvement needs — the School Committee on Tuesday took up the subject of charging athletic feeds for Grafton High School students involved in sports.

Among nearby school systems, including Auburn, Bellingham, Douglas, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Mendon-Upton, Milford, Millbury, Northborough-Southborough, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Sutton, Uxbridge, and Westborough, 13 of the 16 charge an athletic fee, ranging from $50 to $315 per sport, Superintendent of Schools Jay Cummings said. Some districts charge more for hockey and football.

The annual budget for the Grafton High sports program is $470,000, which includes transportation to away games. Last year, 789 students participated in the sports program, with 95 students classed as economically disadvantaged and likely unable to pay for sports costs.

Cummings estimated a fee of $100 per sport would bring in $69,400, while $200 per sport would add $138,800. This does not include possible family caps, unified sports teams, or any decrease in participation based on the introduction of fees.

“I worry that parents aren’t going to want to spend the money for their kids to try a brand-new sport,” Committee member Amy Marr said, noting that high school is sometimes the first opportunity a student has to participate.

Chairperson Laura Often said she has mentally wrestled with the idea. While fees aren’t quite in line with the concept of public education, the alternative may have to be cutting sports from the program.

Adding fees for other after school clubs was also suggested, but Cummings noted that not all clubs meet on a regular basis. Student representatives Tyler Concaugh and James Dewar also pointed out that many student groups already have their own fees — $25 to be on the student council, multiple costs for DECA, dues for National Honor Society. Grafton Theatre offsets its costs through program ad sales and show tickets.

The committee agreed to get more information from Grafton High Principal Jim Pignataro on the various programs and their funding, particularly the support provided by the Grafton Boosters.