Minnesota high schools hit with 'kick in the gut' sports fee increases

Because of the pandemic, member schools will pay the league up to 300% more

Sep 10, 20200

LEILA NAVIDI • Star Tribune count

In a sign of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on high school sports, the sideline benches at East Ridge High School were sanitized during a boys' soccer game on Aug. 27

Letters informing school leaders of the rising costs to be part of the Minnesota State High School League began arriving this week, hefty bills amounting to increases of as much as 300% that one school administrator called "a kick in the gut."

The league, in the letters, lays out its plan to alleviate a significant funding deficit caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by shifting the burden almost exclusively onto its member schools, many of which have their own budget challenges from the pandemic.

The shift comes as the league has shortened its sports seasons and budgeted for no state tournaments in the 2020-21 school year. Those tournaments have typically funded about 75% of the league's annual budget, which is projected to shrink from $9 million to $5 million this year.

https://www.startribune.com/high-school-league-raising-member-fees-up-to-300-in-response-to-covid/572362592/