To the parents and students of the Whitko School Corporation:
The other day I was talking to another parent at Heyerly's Meat Market in South Whitley. She said she had been reading my recent letters to the editor. She was upset about the newly proposed "Pay to Play" rule.
First, she didn't know where the money was going. I spoke to the superintendent and he said the money collected will go to offset coaching salaries and expenses for the sport. Next, she stated, "If I pay for my child to play, then he better get to play." This, I'm sure, is how everyone who has an athlete feels. However, don't fool yourselves. If 50 students "Pay to Play" basketball, for example, not all will play.
I propose this, an $80 fee for each child attending Whitko. This isn't even $4 per week for the school year. This fee would cover the cost of not only sports, but also band, choir, FFA, FHA, Drama Club, Spell Bowl, Math Bowl, Science Club, Book Club, cheerleading (if it's not considered a sport), CWA, etc. This way a fee is not discriminating against athletes or any other organization associated with the school system. And before you judge me, thinking that I only have athletes, my children are in choir and band.
An $80 per child fee is approximately $160,000 per school year for our school. This amount of money is enough to cover coaching expenses, travel expenses and keep a couple of teachers and or teachers aides. If you feel that there should be an across the board fee of $80 for all students not just athletes, please e-mail me at sir.turkey@hotmail.com If you are opposed to including all students and that only athletes should pay please e-mail me as well. I will compile the results and present them at the next school board meeting, which, incidentally is on May 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pierceton Elementary School. Please come and bring a friend. We need to advocate for our children's education.
