District seeking to increase student participation

The Albert Lea school board is considering eliminating activity fees for students out of an effort to reduce barriers for student participation.

Albert Lea Area Schools Superintendent Mike Funk said a recent survey of student athletes conducted by Activities Director Paul Durbahn found that 25% of students said that the cost of participating in activities was a barrier to their participation.

Funk said they have looked at what could be done to reduce or eliminate those barriers and are considering a concept where any student who wanted to participate in activities in the district could do so at no cost. He said there are not presently any other schools in the Big Nine that do this.

Durbahn said other schools  have similar activity fees as Albert Lea, though Albert Lea’s fee structure is a little more complicated.

Jennifer Walsh, executive director of finance and operations for the district, said last year activity fees brought in about $105,000, and the district would need to look at how to make up that revenue if it moved forward with eliminating fees. While the intended consequence of eliminating fees for students is to get higher participation, it may also in turn bring increased costs for additional coaches, transportation, equipment and uniforms as participation rises.

School board member Ken Petersen asked if cost was a factor in getting children to play sports or participate in activities at a younger age as well, and Durbahn said he has been meeting with booster clubs about ways to reduce fees at that level, too.

School board Chairman Dave Klatt said he thought another barrier to student participation is having to sign up online, and Durbahn said he has met with school social workers to start getting meetings set up about translation and other support available for sign-ups.

School board member Angie Hanson said she was in favor of the idea and said she thought eliminating as many barriers would be positive.

“This could be huge,” Hanson said. “This could make a difference in a lot of kids’ lives.”

School board member Neal Skaar said he was excited about the possibility as well and said the Albert Lea Education Foundation will also do everything it can to assist the district in lessening the financial impact on the district.

Petersen referenced the class of 1969, which recently raised almost $80,000 to start a legacy fund that will go toward covering fees for student activities.

Funk said there are several businesses advertising with the new Hammer Complex over the next five years, and the money from those businesses could also potentially support these efforts. 

Durbahn said research supports a correlation between student productivity and attendance and participation in athletics or other student activities.

Funk discussed the potential of also having a store or sale of sports equipment for people to get rid of their used equipment from their children who have graduated as a means to support equipment costs for parents as well.

Durbahn said in the survey he conducted, 40% said that equipment requirements, which would fall on families, are hard to keep up with.

The board indicated they were supportive of the possibility, and administration will continue to look into further specifics on the issue.

In other action, the board approved a master agreement with the Albert Lea Education Agreement effective July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2021.

Funk said teachers will see a 2% increase each year. There was also an increase in the district’s insurance contribution.