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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: La Tapatia is inspected, not graded App Finder: Best basketball apps Phoenix council races draw a crowd — and debate Rite Aid cub well, could come back to southern Oregon Wednesday night windstorm fells large tree at Darkwing Manor Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Medford police arrest 7 in domestic violence sweep Community blog: Domestic Violence- "No More Silence" Emergency services Winters worn down by criticism Home invasion robbery suspect who skipped town two years ago arrested in L.A. Politics and Elections Phoenix council races draw a crowd — and debate Winters worn down by criticism Eagle Point might get on the bus Richardson accuses Kitzhaber of 'corruption' in final debate Green Party won't back its own candidate Education SOU student says free speech issue overblown SOU interim president leads in a different direction Medford school officials consider costs of full-day kindergarten Foundation kicks off ambitious 'Count Me In' fundraising campaign 100 hours and counting Environment Rite Aid cub well, could come back to southern Oregon Neighbors smell trouble in proposal to spread waste on Sams Valley farmland Bear cub captured in Ashland pharmacy Work begins on Southern Oregon's first dedicated mountain bike trail Applegate Dam hydroelectric project dead in water State news Nation - World Obituaries Anne Johnson Gayle Myrna Glover Ronald J. 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Health Community blog: The Crowd And The Win - Better Health Joan Endyke: The importance of a healthy diet when pregnant Community blog: Listening Skills for the Brave and Passionate: Taking it to the Next Level Held captive by whimsy Community blog: My New Best Selling Book Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements New arrivals Southern Oregon Pride parade celebrates gay marriage ruling New Arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Back Porch Bar & Grill Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Scottish music duo plays highland magic Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Dean Angermeier rediscovers his 'roots' Theater Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Music Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Scottish music duo plays highland magic Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Dean Angermeier rediscovers his 'roots' Moonalice plays Applegate Lodge Community Events Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Dining Back Porch Bar & Grill Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Spoons Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: SOU's 'free speech zone' constitutionally questionable ... Wednesday night windstorm fells large tree at Darkwing Manor ... Granlund cartoon: Canadian terrorist attack ... Our View: SOU's 'free speech zone' constitutionally questionable ... Wednesday night windstorm fells large tree at Darkwing Manor ... Granlund cartoon: Canadian terrorist attack ... Our Opinion: Spread the wealth Ending pay-to-play fees for athletics is great; do the same for other activities A proposal from the Medford School District Budget Committee that would eliminate "pay-to-play" fees for athletics in next year's budget would take a burden off student athletes and their families, and should be approved. But it doesn't go far enough. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 1, 2014 @ 2:00 am Posted Jun. 1, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Social News A proposal from the Medford School District Budget Committee that would eliminate "pay-to-play" fees for athletics in next year's budget would take a burden off student athletes and their families, and should be approved. But it doesn't go far enough. Athletes are not the only students who must pay fees to participate in after-school activities. Other programs sanctioned by the Oregon School Activities Association include drama productions and speech and debate competitions. Students who want to take part in those activities must pay a $50 fee. The District Budget Committee earlier this month approved the proposed budget for 2014-15, in the process increasing athletic program funding by about $220,000. That increase, which would come from district reserves, would eliminate the fees students now pay to participate in athletics. The fees were adopted 10 years ago in the face of declining state funding for K-12 education. High school athletes pay $150 per sport with a $300 cap, while middle school athletes pay $75 per sport. Dennis Murphy, the athletic director at South Medford High School, says the district has never turned away a student who wanted to play but could not afford the fee. That's as it should be, but doesn't address the possibility that some students never asked to play out of embarrassment or fear that they would be turned away. Murphy expressed concern that the fees might have to be reinstated in future years if revenues dip again. He suggested reducing them but not eliminating them entirely. That's a decision the School Board will have to make. The board will take public comments on the proposed budget in its meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in the District Education Center Board Room, 815 S. Oakdale Ave. Athletic fees are a burden even to families who can afford to pay them, and it makes sense to eliminate them if the district has the resources. Certainly $200,000 won't make much of a dent in a reserve fund of $10.4 million. But it makes no sense to eliminate fees for athletics while still charging for non-athletic activities such as debate and drama. Dropping the fees is a good idea; dropping them for all after-school activities is the right idea. 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