Bethel Park High School

'Pay to play' draws mixed reviews

The process is somewhat simpler in the Bethel Park School District where the board passed a $71 million budget that included a flat $50 fee for students who wish to take part in school sports or activities.

In Upper St. Clair School District, the fees are for high school and middle school sports only and are based on a percentage of the costs to the district.

In Peters Township, there will be fees for athletics and activities at both the high school and the middle school.

Ten dollars will cover activities and a flat $90 per student per sport fee with a maximum of $215 per year.

Lower fees apply for the middle school sports.

Deborah Matetic of Peters Township, the mother of senior Morgan Matetic, 17, who participates in basketball and softball, said she is "really surprised by the whole thing.

"(The district) has the funds to upgrade the fields behind Pleasant Valley (Elementary School) and if a kids wants to play they have to pay, yet they have the money to upgrade the fields," Matetic said.

The same night the school board passed the 2011-12 $49.5 million budget with a tax increase, the board approved the pay for play and a $5 million bond issue, about half of which will be used to upgrade the fields with lights, a sound system and artificial turf.

Matetic said her daughter will continue to participate in sports and the family will pay the additional $180. She is concerned about the district's request that the individual booster clubs pick up the cost of the lowest paid assistant coach and offer financial assistant to those students who cannot afford the fees. Peters students will not be issued a sport uniform until the fee is paid.

In Bethel Park, students will pay a flat $50 fee.

"I don't like the idea of having to pay, but when I see what's going on in other communities, like in USC and Peters Townships, it doesn't seem that bad here," said Bethel Park senior and basketball player Evan Schweitzer. "The only problem is that there are people that won't be able to pay the fees and would think twice about playing."

Bethel Park senior Ryan Thorsen, who plays soccer, basketball and volleyball, said he believes the new system is fair, "given the shape our economy is in."

"The schools don't have the money like they used to.

Young Achiever: Jarrod Cingel - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

-->

Age : 16

Residence : Bethel Park

Family : Mother, Cindy, 51; father, Tom, 58

School : Bethel Park High School

Clubs/organizations: Boy Scouts of America, concert and stage bands, Science Club, Forensics Club, class treasurer, student government technology director and member of the tennis and fencing teams.

Hobbies/interests: Computer programming, and playing the alto saxophone and tennis.

Noteworthy : He was selected to present his computer science project, "Artificial Intelligence and Skatterball," at the National Science Foundation's TeraGrid 2011 Conference, to be held Monday through July 21 in Salt Lake City. The project took first place this year at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Region 7 competition at Keystone Oaks High School and two Honorable Mention Sponsor awards at the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair at Heinz Field.

Quote : "I'm very excited to be attending the TeraGrid 2011 conference. I feel it will definitely be a great learning experience and allow me to gain some great experience with the science community and many real scientists.

Bethel Park

CIC's school directory

The College blue book

High Schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvani, Bethel Park High School, Shady Side Academy, Upper St. Clair High School, Hempfield Area High School

Insiders' Guide to Pittsburgh