WACO considers charging admission to concerts, plays

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

WAYLAND ? WACO School District officials are considering charging admission to grade 7-12 concerts, musicals and plays.

?I am thinking about charging the same as we do to varsity, junior varsity and junior high athletic contests,? Superintendent Fred Whipple told the WACO School Board during its regular meeting Monday night.

?The receipts would go to the school activity fund,? Whipple continued. ?If that doesn?t work, we could go to a free-will donation.?

Audra Barnhart, president of the WACO Music Boosters, urged caution.

?I would ask that you just make it a reasonable amount. Charging the same as a varsity game is not reasonable,? she said.

She went on to point out that concerts range from 45-60 minutes in duration whereas athletic contests, especially if it is a junior varsity/varsity doubleheader, can run as long as three hours.

?A lot of families could be paying as much as $16 (varsity athletic contest admission is $4 per person) which is a lot of money for an hour,? Barnhart pointed out. ?I am not asking that we don?t charge, but charge a reasonable amount.?

Whipple said the intent is not to create a hardship for families, but with things becoming more expensive, the district is trying to find a solution for funding since general fund money couldn?t be used for activities.

?The problem is that we don?t have as many people participating, so we are not getting as many people attending,? said Carrie Coble, school business manager and board secretary. Coble noted less participation and less attendance means less revenue for the activity fund.

WACO Junior/Senior High School Principal Jeff Nance said charging admission for concerts and plays should be broken in slowly so parents of students and non-participating students know they?re going to be charged.

The superintendent said the school may look at a survey on the issue, and he will report back to the board.

With school beginning in less than a week, Whipple said there is considerable facility improvement work to be completed.

?We have beautiful facilities, but we have lots of little things to do such as spraying weeds and trimming bushes,? he explained. ?There are also some ceiling tiles that need replacing.

The elementary school in Crawfordsville and athletic facilities, however, are ready to go

In a related matter, Whipple said he is trying to resolve an issue a neighbor has with glare from the solar panels at the junior/senior high school.

?We are going to explore some things, like bushes or a mesh fence,? Whipple remarked. ?You will see more and more of this as solar energy really takes off.?

Nearly all faculty and support staff positions are filled for the 2015-16 term, school officials said. Nance said that for some reason, there was more faculty turnover than usual this year. ?We have had the largest teacher turnover this year in the three years I have been here,? he said. ?However, we will get them up to speed with staff in-service.

WACO filled three of its staff slots Monday night, approving contracts for Natalie Whelchel, early childhood teachers, $33,820; Brad Shettler, assistant junior high volleyball coach; and Monte McGuire, high school custodian, $8.95 per hour.

Devin Gier?s resignation as a special education associate was also accepted.

In other news, Whipple said the district received a $2,500 grant from Walmart. Funds will be used to redo the mulching under the elementary playground.

Board members also approved the renewal of the district?s contract with Pepsi for refreshment services to the district. Under terms of the seven-year agreement with Pepsi, WACO will receive $33,572 in sponsorship fees, rebates, etc., during the life of the contract. The booster club also receives a percentage of concession-stand sales at athletic contests.

In other business, the board:

? Approved the English Limited Literacy Plan.

? Agreed to work at the football concession stand on Sept. 11.

? Incumbent board member Amy McLaughlin (District 3) and newcomer Brooke Carter (District 1) have filed nomination papers for seats on the board for the Sept. 8 school board elections. Incumbent board member Todd Meyer has decided not to seek re-election.

? The solar system will be turned on Thursday, Aug. 20, for several hours at the junior/senior high school building for a test run.

WACO School Board members meet again in regular session Monday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. in the media center of the junior/senior high school in Wayland.