Grove City Messenger - March 26th, 2023

PAGE 2 - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - March 26, 2023
SOUTH-WESTERN
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www.columbusmessenger.com
said that while they would have liked to have seen the participation
fees for athletics and other extracurricular activities
eliminated outright, they called this unanimous decision
“a compromise” on a promise the board made to the
community more than a decade ago.
“I would like to get rid of them all the way,” said board
member Chris Boso, “but I think as a board we came
together to talk about this issue and came to the solution
C.M.T
MOWER REPAIRS
614-875-5830
6446 HARRISBURG PIKE, ORIENT, OHIO 43146
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“We have the lowest price in town!”
that it should be cut in half.”
The pay-to-participate fees were established in 2009
when the board approved a ballot initiative for a 7.4-mill
continuous operating levy. As an assurance to use tax dollars
wisely, the board said a pay-to-participate fee schedule
would be created to offset some of the operational costs
incurred through athletic and extracurricular programs.
Initially, the pay-to-participate fee schedule was set as
followed: families with children who participated in
middle school and high school athletics would pay
$75 and $150 per sport, per student, respectively,
and families whose children participated in the high
school marching band and clubs would pay $100 per
year and $10 per club, respectively. The family payto-participate
cap was set at $500.
During the 2020-2021 school year, those fees were
reduced by 50 percent due to lost competitive opportunities
caused by the introduction of the novel coronavirus
and the financial impact that was felt by
most families due to the introduction of the coronavirus.
As most families are still feeling the financial
impact caused by the pandemic, the board has
agreed to keep the 50 percent pay-to-participate fee
reduction in place three times. Their decision to further
reduce those prices means the board will have
reduced the pay-to-participate fees by 75 percent
since the start of the pandemic.
Under the newly modified pay-to-participate fee
schedule, families with children who participate in
athletics at the middle school and high school level
will pay $18.75 and $37.50 per sport, per student,
respectively, and families whose children participate
Spring musical
The Grove City High School Theatre Department
will perform its spring musical “Once Upon a
Mattress” at 4665 Hoover Road. The shows will run on
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scene is advantageous in many situations,
like in domestic violence situations where
the woman may feel more comfortable
talking to a female officer or anything
involving children, where they may look to
a women as a comforting figure.
Hennessy also said she mentors
younger female officers.
“I think they appreciate having a female
as a coach.”
Hennessy may be the first female police
sergeant for the Grove City Division of
Police, but she hopes she won’t be the last.
“I worked hard for growth opportunities.
I did all I could to get here,” she said.
Hennessy said she even took the
sergeant exam earlier in her career and
did not get a promotion. But she kept at it,
kept honing in on her craft.
Her advice for other women — “Work
hard and follow your dreams. Don’t let people
tell you, you can’t do it.”
Sergeant Brittany Hennessy signs documents
after her swearing-in ceremony as
Safety Director Kevin Teaford looks on.
in the high school marching band and clubs would pay $25
per year and $2.50 per club, respectively. The family payto-participate
cap is set at $125.
Board member Cathy Johnson said that families who
are struggling to pay the fees can seek scholarships from
Success Beyond the Classroom for additional financial
assistance. Families are encouraged to contact their
schools for more information on scholarship opportunities.
The board of education also agreed to keep in place the
student fee schedule for the 2023-2024 school year. These
fees were also reduced at the start of the pandemic.
Under the reduced student fee schedule, the instructional
fee will be set at $10 rather than the typical $20.
Other fee reductions for courses include the arts, the sciences,
and several career technical elective programs. Art
courses offering one credit lab courses will be $17.50 plus
the cost of personal items and projects; half-credit courses
are set at $10 plus the cost of personal items and projects;
and science fees are set at $5. Students who are taking
family and consumer science courses, such as principles of
food , culinary fundamentals, global foods, textiles and
interior design, and textiles and construction and maintenance
will be charged $10.
Students who are seeking courses or actively enrolled in
the career-technical program will be sent literature listing
lab fees and uniform expenses.
High school students looking to reserve a space in their
school’s parking lot will be assessed a fee of $25. That fee
will be waived, however, if a parking pass was purchased
at Columbus State Community College for on-campus
courses. Students must show proof of the existence of their
current pass in order to have the parking fee waived.
community events
March 30 and March 31 at 7 p.m.; on April 1 at 2 and
7 p.m.; and on April 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for
adults and $10 for students. Tickets can be purchased
at the door.