Board cuts, then partly restores, school sports with new family fees

What happened

The FY27 budget initially eliminated most secondary sports and activities. On February 24, 2026 the board restored most of them using $3.16 million redirected from the school closures, but added new two-tier participation fees ($300 or $500 depending on the sport, capped at $800 per athlete), reduced team travel to a parent-caravan model for in-town games, and combined some programs like debate (from 8 teams to 4).

Why it matters to families

Families with student-athletes now pay more to participate, and some travel and team structures have changed, even though most sports themselves were kept. Middle school sports, which had been fully cut, were restored under this plan.

The evidence

The board's recaps of the February 17 and February 24, 2026 meetings detail the fee tiers, the $3.16 million restoration plan, and the specific program changes (reduced hockey ice time, combined debate teams, a parent-caravan transportation model).

The source