Harvard Community Unit School District 50 issued the following announcement on Aug. 9.
Harvard CUSD 50 has lowered athletic and activity fees and eliminated admission costs for regular season athletic events for all district students.
Sean Hammond, reporting for the Northwest Herald:
When Andrew Walters took over as athletic director at Harvard Community Unit School District 50 last month, he made it clear his goal was to increase participation across all athletics and activities.
This summer Harvard took a major step toward doing so. The District 50 board of education voted in May to lower athletic and activity fees for the 2018-19 school year.
High school athletic and music fees dropped from $125 to $75. Junior high fees dropped from $60 to $40. Additionally, any current District 50 students may now attend regular season athletic events for free.
“That was one of the first things I looked at when I was interviewing for this job: What are we charging?” Walters said. “Now, we’re going to have $75 for two sports, and the third sport – if they’re a three-sport athlete – is free.”
Read the full article on the Northwest Herald’s website.
Direct Certified students, those who qualify for free meals through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, had fees lowered from $80 to $25. The 68% decrease lowers the cost barrier for students from households that might otherwise not be able to participate in athletics and activities.
New Athletic/Activities Director Andrew Walters said, “Our goal is to be as inclusive as possible. We want 100% participation at Harvard High School, and the reduction of fees is a step in the right direction to meet that goal. The CUSD 50 Board of Education is making a major commitment to all families by lowering the cost for all involved, including the elimination of entrance fees for all CUSD 50 students to regular season events. We never want a student excluded due to cost.”
National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, Tri-M, Student Council, FFA, Yearbook Club, letters of enrollment, and transcripts will have no charge to students.
Contact the Athletics & Activities Department for more information.
Harvard High School Fees
First Sport/Activity – $75
Second Sport/Activity – $75
Third Sport/Activity – Free
Harvard Junior High Fees
First Sport/Activity – $40
Second Sport/Activity – $40
Third Sport/Activity – Free
Direct Certified Students
First Sport/Activity – $25
Second Sport/Activity – $25
Third Sport/Activity – Free
Original source can be found here.
Source: Harvard Community Unit School District 50