Mt. Healthy school board approves pay-to-play for sports

MT. HEALTHY, Ohio (WXIX) – The Mt. Healthy Local School District received approval from the state to put a tax levy on the ballot and to begin pay-to-play for sports.

The board of education announced the state’s approval during a meeting on Monday.

High school athletes would pay $150 for the first sport they play during a school year and $75 for the second sport. Any additional sports would be free.

Middle school athletes would pay $100 one time for all the sports they would play.

Parents could help lower the fees by volunteering to work jobs at athletic events.

“We hope that pay-to-play will cover most of the costs so we’ll be in the black, and not in the red, for the athletes and the coaches,” Superintendent Valerie Hawkins said.

The state also approved a 3-mill levy for the district. The levy would need approval from the Hamilton County Auditor and another vote by the board before it could be placed on the ballot in November.

“That’s going to add a little bit over $100 for the average person,” Hawkins said.

The district hasn’t passed a new ongoing levy since 2003.

The Ohio State Auditor declared the district to be in a fiscal emergency earlier this year. The state agreed in April to give the district an $11 million loan to help it meet its budget.

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