Schools
Pay-to-Play, Bussing Changes Bring Overflow Crowd to Harford County School Board Meeting
The main business meeting began at 6:30 p.m. with a closed session taking place in the hour preceding.
The Harford County Board of Education meeting room was filled to capacity Monday at least half an hour before the meeting began.
More than 30 people were patiently waiting in the hallway and lobby of the A.A. Roberty building watching live feed of the meeting on a single television screen mounted to the wall.
Some of the lingering parents and meeting attendees were wearing Harford County high school colors and expressing concern their voices may not be heard.
Parents, students and community leaders were on hand to voice their concerns about the new pay-to-play fees for athletics and extra-curricular activities in the school system and changes to bus routes.
Under the fee policy, students would pay $50 per season to play an interscholastic sport, while other activities—such as clubs, school plays and academic honor societies—would cost $25 for the year.
Athletics boosters clubs planned their statements after meeting last week. Many students were expected to bring signs to indicate how much their full schedules would cost them in 2013-2014.
Also Monday was the swearing-in of a new president, vice president and student representative to the board.
Stay with Patch for updates.
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