Board considers sports admission hike

McCOOK, Neb. — The entry fee for athletic events at McCook Public Schools may go up in the future.

Currently, it costs $5 to enter events at MPS. While discussing student fees at the public hearing Monday night prior to the regular McCook Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Grant Norgaard said there is room in the policy to increase entry fees to $6. This has been discussed in the past, he said, as MPS entry fees are some of the lowest in the area. McCook Schools Business Manager Jeff Gross concurred and said MPS has the lowest-priced ticket sales compared to other schools in the Southwest Athletic Conference. A study of area entry fees will be done before MPS entry fees are increased, Gross said.

The public hearing on student fees is mandated by state law. After the public hearing, the board unanimously approved student fees during the regular meeting, with the amendment that school lunch prices be included. The board approved increased meal prices for the 2022-23 school year at its June meeting.

In addition to the student fee public hearing, another public hearing was for another school policy, parental involvement.

Later in the meeting, the board also unanimously approved the district’s policy on school bullying, a policy that must be approved annually per state law. The only comment came from Superintendent Grand Norgaard, who said the policy can be changed anytime during the year and not just at its annual approval.

The policy states the district will investigate allegations of bullying and cyberbullying, with the school building principal handling all complaints.