Facing a budget shortfall of several million dollars, the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees instituted an athletics fee for the 2017-18 school year. Called “pay to play” by many people on campus, the district is calling it something else.

“The operational fee is in place to offset transportation, officials, and things like that,” head volleyball coach Ui Womble said. “The way it’s set up is parents have a form to fill out on RankOne that acknowledges that they understand that this is something that’s been put in place and then they actually pay through mypaymentsplus.”

For high schools across the district, any student looking to play sports through the school must pay a $200 fee in order to participate.

However if a student is financially unable to pay the fee, there is a way they can still play.

“We want all students to be able to participate in athletics,” principal Ashley Rainwater said. “So if we have a student that feels like it’s a financial hardship they need to see their head coach and they’ll work with them.”

The athletics fee was part of the 2017-18 budget passed by the Board of Trustees in June but not implemented until July, with the revenue generated helping to finance all school sports.

“The operational fee is really going towards all of the things we do athletically in Frisco ISD,” campus athletic director Chris Burtch said. “Not just football or volleyball.”

Although new to the school district, the price of playing isn’t new.

“We know that it’s not normal for Frisco, but many kids pay way more to play sports outside of school,” Burtch said. “And we are some of the last ones in this area to require a fee for sports.”