Burlingame youth groups take issue with fees to use high school fields (by Christine Morente,
San Mateo County Times)
BURLINGAME If it wasn't for the city's parks, Donna Colson's softball league would be fieldless.
Colson said her application to use Burlingame High School's fields was first turned down without a specific explanation in September. The 44-year-old said it had to do with being outspoken, and wanting the San Mateo Union High School District to justify how it came up with the assessment to charge a $45-an-hour fee to use the softball fields next year. "I cannot figure out what the $45 is paying for," Colson said Friday. "If somebody would show me, then I would be more comfortable. I think $10 is a rate that seems fair."
Starting on July 1 and through June 30, 2009, rent for softball fields became $22.50 an hour on Sundays.
She now uses Ray and Bayside parks, and Franklin Elementary for the fall league. Softball season starts March 8.
From her calculations, fees for nonprofit sports groups that need 2,000 hours of softball field time at $45 an hour would be astronomical and the cost would have to be divided among the players. For example, if there were 350 players, a family would pay $257, in addition to the $150 that covers uniforms, insurance, training supplies and use of city fields.
Ken Rhoads, section director for the American Youth Soccer Organization, is accusing the district of charging more than its direct cost.
Renting the football/soccer fields now cost $27.50 an hour on Sundays. He foresees it reaching $80 an hour in the future.
For years, the soccer organization has paid for services such as lights for night games and practices, and janitorial services at Burlingame High School.
On the Peninsula, there are at least 10,000 children signed up in soccer organization, a 10-week program that started in September. Of those kids, 1,400 are from Burlingame.
Rhoads said he's ready to take his complaints to Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction, to decide what action to take for the sake of all youth groups. "We're finding inconsistencies all over now," said Rhoads, referring to differing field fees. "There's enough abuse across the state anyway, and no one asks the questions. It's hurting youth sports. I know smaller organizations have given up."
In March, the district's board voted to increase its fees to supplement its budget. It oversees the high schools in Burlingame, Foster City, Millbrae, San Bruno and San Mateo, and previously ended facilities use agreements with those cities.
Elizabeth McManus, the district's associate superintendent of business services, said she has provided a detailed breakdown to all the users. She explained Friday that because the cities had managed the fields, the district had to look at what other basic aid high school districts charged.
Palo Alto Unified School District charges $70 an hour for football fields.
McManus said it's the quality of fields and amenities that determines the fees.
San Mateo Union is putting in new bathroom buildings in six of its high school stadiums, and updating seven football/soccer fields at a cost of $17 million.
"These are top-of-the-line facilities we're talking about," she said. "They're not practice fields. (But) we will look closer at the fee structure at the end of this year and next year to see if those fees need to be increased further or reduced slightly." "We are here to work with people," McManus added. "We're trying to be supportive, while being absolutely true to our mission statement as a school district to provide sound educational programs to our youth."
According to Colson, the softball league in Palo Alto pays $1 an hour to rent a field, while at Elk Grove Unified School District, fields are free and groups only need to submit an application. "We just want to pay what's right and we want to be fairly treated," she said.
Meanwhile, Colson said the high school district has recanted the denial of her application but has delayed processing her form. "At this point, I said 'thank you, but no thanks,'" she said. "The city gave us enough field time, we don't have to apply for the high school fields."
- Written by Fiona
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