At the beginning of the 2024 school year, Cascade High School received a new principal, and along with this came new rules and policies. Even though many of these changes are made with the best interest of the students in mind, they have created miscommunication and tension between students and the school administration. The most notable change of the 2024-25 school year so far is the mandatory fees for clubs.
Clubs are an important part of CHS culture and the high school experience. They offer exposure to a variety of career fields, valuable resume building experiences, the chance to earn community service hours, and an extracurricular outlet for teens. Many clubs at CHS have a history of excellence, helping to add to the prestige of Cascade High School.
In the past, club fees were non-existent, and anyone could sign up for a club and go on trips and events in association with the club. This was made possible by supplemental funding during the Covid-19 pandemic. In efforts to curb some of the negative ramifications of COVID-19, schools received funding from the federal government to aid with re-opening schools and providing emergency relief.
For many of the students at Cascade High School, because COVID-19 began in the middle of their seventh-grade year, hybrid learning was instituted late in their eighth-grade year and COVID relief funds covered the cost of their club membership for grades 9-11, they have never had to pay fees.
Covid Relief funding allowed clubs to be free of charge and students at CHS grew accustomed to this norm. This lack of fees made clubs and activities more accessible, especially for CHS students who may come from less affluent backgrounds. Students were able to join multiple clubs without the hassle or worry associated with paying membership fees.
But it wasn’t always this way. “Clubs didn’t have fees due to COVID. Before clubs did have fees,” said Ms. Feliciano, CHS Registrar. Feliciano notes that pre-COVID, in early 2020, students at CHS had to pay a $25 dollar fee for clubs they joined.
The “revived” 2024 policy of paying club fees will affect everyone who has signed up for a club or plans to join in the future. Unfortunately, many students were not informed of the necessity to pay fees during the Club Rush event; this can be attributed to lack of communication on the part of administration and our ASB leaders.
Upon careful examination of the CHS ASB Constitution, which is amended and ratified by ASB leadership, article 14, clubs and organizations, does not clearly state that CHS club membership will require a $25 fee per club joined.
Current ASB leadership, who also fulfilled terms last year, could not recall being part of a decision or vote to implement this change.
“We were the only one that took as long as we did to start charging again, and then we are now obviously in a big financial crisis because we were one of the only districts that did not charge for the past couple years and now that is getting back on track,” said Ms. Osborn, CHS and ASB bookkeeper.
“We were the only one that took as long as we did to start charging again, and then we are now obviously in a big financial crisis because we were one of the only districts that did not charge for the past couple years and now that is getting back on track,” said Ms. Osborn, CHS and ASB bookkeeper.
On a positive note, Osborn confirmed that the money being paid to get into each club does go directly to the club, helping CHS clubs to afford travel costs, registration fees for competitions and other incurred costs.
Also, students who are signed up for free or reduced lunch get to join clubs at a reduced price. “Any kids [who] are still signed up for free and reduced lunch, they still need to go down to check out with Ms. Fonseca or Ms. Feliciano, then it is reduced to zero or $12.50,” Osborn explained.
Osborn explained the logic behind the administration’s decision: “Clubs are not self-sufficient. We tried it last year, by not charging, but clubs wanted to go do this and go do that and they did not fundraise. Pretty soon they [were] in the negative and technically that is illegal.”
While some clubs do need funds to attend competitions and take trips, others may not need the funding generated by collection of club fees. It seems more reasonable to allow clubs to determine, based on their own financial standing and needs, whether collection of dues is necessary.
Many students are happy to pay fees to attend competitions or cover the cost of travel or to help fundraise to cover these expenses. However, some students find it difficult to see the administration's side due to a lack of communication.
Many students, including the ASB officers who should have been a part of making this crucial decision last year, did not know that clubs now mandated a $25 dollar fee. It is crucial that students, especially student leaders, rightfully understand the reasoning behind such fees and what choices they have if they cannot financially afford a club.
In the future, more information on clubs and fees should be easily available so that students know what they are getting into. This simple change requiring only more clear communication between administration and ASB leadership will ensure that the CHS student body isn't taken by surprise in the future.
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