A group of Norwin youth sports league representatives expressed their opposition Monday to the Norwin School Board’s plans to raise rental fees for using the district’s fields and gymnasium, saying the increases could price some players out of playing.
The school board on Monday night considered a policy that would raise the rental fees of the nonprofit community-based youth football and cheer organizations, lacrosse leagues and basketball leagues as a way of partially covering maintenance and utility costs of those facilities. A vote on implementing the policy is scheduled for the Feb. 16 meeting.
“Some fee increases that have been proposed could be devastating” to players who may not be able to afford an increase in registration fees, said Justin Ellsworth, coaching director for the girls who are involved in the Norwin Lacrosse Club.
Raising the fees could impact the ability of some children to participate in the youth football program, said Stanley “Stush” Gorski, president of Norwin Youth Football, which also has a cheer component.
After the school administration met recently with representatives of the youth sports league, board President Bill Bojalad said the district will delay the initial price hike for the upcoming school year. In the 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years, the fees will increase by 5%, then drop to 3% in the 2029-30 school year.
Superintendent Natalie McCracken said the pricing on community groups using school facilities has remained the same since about 2018.
The increase in fees will help to offset the cost of maintenance, wear-and-tear on the facilities and utilities, Bojalad said.
The use of the Knights Stadium, which is to be closed until the 2027 football season for extensive renovations, was proposed to cost $28 an hour in the initial fee schedule, increasing to $50 an hour by the school year 2028-29.
The fees for using the gymnasium will increase from $7 per hour to $13 per hour in July 2027, and $19 an hour in 2028-29, reaching $25 per hour in the 2029-30 school year.
Fields at the elementary schools will increase from $7 per hour to $10 an hour, then $13 an hour, McCracken said.
Norwin already charges more than some neighboring school districts for use of their facilities, said Ellsworth, of Norwin Lacrosse Club.
Keeping the athletic facilities affordable is a way of investing in the youth of the community, he said.
“Youth sports should not be seen as a burden,” but an asset, said Alyssa Zombeck, a youth lacrosse association representative.