Family, student activity ticket prices increasing next year after 5-1 vote

McCOOK, Neb. -- Activity ticket prices for adults and families will be increased next year at McCook Senior High events, with one school board member voting against the increase.

Loretta Hauxwell cast the dissenting vote Monday night at the regular school board meeting against the price hike, with Teresa Thomas, Bob Elder, Tom Bredvick, Brian Esch and Diane Lyons voting in favor of it.

Hauxwell said she wanted more data as to which activities had needs before voting in favor of it and also wanted to hold off on the increase until admission prices to conference events were increased.

Superintendent Grant Norgaard cited increases seen in hiring officials, equipment, uniforms and other expenses as a reason for the price hike and that the general fund fills in when costs supersede revenue in an activity.

As requested by McCook Public Schools activity director Darin Nichols, the price of activity tickets for adults will rise $5, to $50 and by $10 for family activity passes, to $160.

The increase will not affect the price of activity tickets that are mandatory for high school and junior high students, with those qualifying for free or reduced lunches eligible for a free activity ticket if requested.

Activities, such as sports as well as speech, drama and choir teams, are meant to be self-sufficient in the budget and if costs outpace revenue, money is taken from the general fund to offset that and that means less funds for curriculum, said McCook Schools business manager, Rick Haney.

Board president Tom Bredvick, addressing Hauxwell's request for more information, said he sees the data concerning activities each year in the budget and that he'd rather see the increases come from those who support it, via activity tickets, rather than from the general fund. He added that the increase is smaller percentage-wise than the 10-cent school lunch increase the board unanimously voted to approve earlier in the meeting.

Getting officials for games is getting more difficult to do, he added, with many retiring and those available having to travel extensively to games.

An in-depth look at activity costs and revenue could be addressed in an activities committee meeting, noted board member Diane Lyons.

Also Monday night, the board approved a new policy addressing catastrophic leave that will be available to teachers and administrators.

As requested by the McCook Education Association, the teacher union that negotiates salaries each year with the McCook School Board, the policy sets up a bank of 50 days that certified staff can use to care for an immediate family member in a doctor-certified emergency or life-threatening condition. Teachers and administration are eligible for catastrophic leave after exhausting all their personal days and accumulated sick leave days and can apply for it up to two times per year.