Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 21:53     Subject: required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t see the issue OP. Just don’t participate.


Just make sure that your child isn’t there mooching nuggets…


You can have parents order a meal per game and tell them this is the options and costs. To demand a fixed amount going to another parents bank account is not ok.


So volunteer to do better, moocher.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 21:49     Subject: required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
Anonymous wrote:My dd is on a varsity sport. We just received an email from the 'team parents' saying the team has $150 dues to cover things like serving the kids "dinners" prior to games (I put this in quotes because the dinners are expected to be at 3pm.). The letter has the same language you would see on an official field trip announcement that asks people to contact the coach if they need assistance paying. The team parent clearly views this as a mandatory payment because in the same email they mention that they also encourage membership in the booster club (another $50) but note that booster membership is voluntary.).

If the donations were for a single dinner before a special game, I wouldn't have a problem with it. And if it were a smaller amount just for snacks to give the kids a boost, also not a problem. But it really irks me that self appointed team parents would mandate dozens of other families to pay high dues to serve meals (they mentioned chipotle and chick-fa-le) that seem ill conceived (mid-afternoon; heavy food before a lot of exercise) without any vote or input from the rest of the parents.

How is this allowed at a public school?


Ask the school's financial director and you will find this is common practice. Even parents who volunteer to go on field trips must pay for their seats on the bus.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 21:03     Subject: Re:required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:That’s less than $15 per meal. It’s not bad. We don’t do that but parents each take a turn bringing dinner and you can’t bring home cooked food. It costs more than $150 to host. I’d be happy to contribute $150 and have someone else do the work.

If you don’t want to do it, call the coach or the athletic director. But then someone else will be stuck paying for your daughter. And, if you actually can afford it, your daughter may be embarrassed.


It’s only $15 if there are only ten games. And where do you get food for less than $15? I mean with tax and delivery fee, it’s gotta be money re than that for Chipotle’s.

$15 a meal is $$$, especially when you are doing bulk meals.


Tell your kid to order double meat and qauc then you will be north of $15 and making money.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 20:59     Subject: Re:required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
I don't think it is allowed to require players to pay dues to participate in a sport in mcps. teams can collect fees for equipment. Team parents can organize nice things for the players throughout the season and ask player families to contribute. Contributions are voluntary though. You could certainly pay half or what you are able to contribute toward the fun and meals of the season if that is better. Sorry you are feeling pressured. Also surprised the coach is involved- that doesn't seem right.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 20:54     Subject: Re:required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:That’s less than $15 per meal. It’s not bad. We don’t do that but parents each take a turn bringing dinner and you can’t bring home cooked food. It costs more than $150 to host. I’d be happy to contribute $150 and have someone else do the work.

If you don’t want to do it, call the coach or the athletic director. But then someone else will be stuck paying for your daughter. And, if you actually can afford it, your daughter may be embarrassed.


It’s only $15 if there are only ten games. And where do you get food for less than $15? I mean with tax and delivery fee, it’s gotta be money re than that for Chipotle’s.

$15 a meal is $$$, especially when you are doing bulk meals.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 20:23     Subject: required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
We have dues this year also. I wonder if we're at the same school. Our team dinners are at the same time each week (unrelated to games) so my kid can't even go to them because they have another commitment. It's truly absurd but we paid for the benefit of the team. I do appreciate that they're aiming to reimburse people though.

I saw that a coach called out kids in a team chat who hadn't paid yet. Said to contact the team parents if they had financial need. We don't have a lot of kids with financial need but I am sure there are some. That's really awful. People need more training about this stuff.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 20:22     Subject: required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
Anonymous wrote:My dd is on a varsity sport. We just received an email from the 'team parents' saying the team has $150 dues to cover things like serving the kids "dinners" prior to games (I put this in quotes because the dinners are expected to be at 3pm.). The letter has the same language you would see on an official field trip announcement that asks people to contact the coach if they need assistance paying. The team parent clearly views this as a mandatory payment because in the same email they mention that they also encourage membership in the booster club (another $50) but note that booster membership is voluntary.).

If the donations were for a single dinner before a special game, I wouldn't have a problem with it. And if it were a smaller amount just for snacks to give the kids a boost, also not a problem. But it really irks me that self appointed team parents would mandate dozens of other families to pay high dues to serve meals (they mentioned chipotle and chick-fa-le) that seem ill conceived (mid-afternoon; heavy food before a lot of exercise) without any vote or input from the rest of the parents.

How is this allowed at a public school?


It is allowed. Maryland law only guarantees a free public education. Extra curricular can have fees.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 20:22     Subject: Re:required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
Anonymous wrote:That’s less than $15 per meal. It’s not bad. We don’t do that but parents each take a turn bringing dinner and you can’t bring home cooked food. It costs more than $150 to host. I’d be happy to contribute $150 and have someone else do the work.

If you don’t want to do it, call the coach or the athletic director. But then someone else will be stuck paying for your daughter. And, if you actually can afford it, your daughter may be embarrassed.


$15 a meal is $$$, especially when you are doing bulk meals.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 20:22     Subject: required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t see the issue OP. Just don’t participate.


Just make sure that your child isn’t there mooching nuggets…


You can have parents order a meal per game and tell them this is the options and costs. To demand a fixed amount going to another parents bank account is not ok.


This isn't a travel or any kind of private team. It's a school team. It would be fine if there is an opt-in system (if you want your kid to participate, here are the dues). It would be fine if it were a coordinated order where people choose what they want, pay for it, and a parent picks it up and delivers it to school. Frankly, this sounds easier and better. Surely most kids would put pressure on parents to participate, but that's a whole different thing. But any kind of mandatory fee (the email clearly indicates it is not voluntary and the coach is cited as part of it) should not be part of an MCPS team.





Its not ok for a parent to collect money into their personal account and not have accountability.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 20:13     Subject: Re:required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
Seems normal enough and the team parent email said if the money is a hardship contact the coach so it does not sound like the money is required just requested. Usually the coach is involved in asking team parents what to organize so my guess is the coach is aware of the request.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 19:33     Subject: Re:required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
That’s less than $15 per meal. It’s not bad. We don’t do that but parents each take a turn bringing dinner and you can’t bring home cooked food. It costs more than $150 to host. I’d be happy to contribute $150 and have someone else do the work.

If you don’t want to do it, call the coach or the athletic director. But then someone else will be stuck paying for your daughter. And, if you actually can afford it, your daughter may be embarrassed.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 18:39     Subject: required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
Anonymous wrote:My kid plays a varsity sport at a W school and there definitely is not a team dinner before every game or any type of “donation” request. This feels really strange to me.


Also at a W school where this is my child’s 3rd year. No donation. We have team dinners 1-2x a week but never before a game and parents host them. Since our house is too small to host, I feel badly that we aren’t pulling our weight. I would be happy to donate to the meals each season as I’m sure the food adds up for those hosting.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 18:27     Subject: required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Respond back and cc all. Ask those questions and see what the response is.


Dd would *kill* me.

Lol! OP, my DD just started COLLEGE and her friend on the Poms team is doing a fundraiser for equipment. It's an in-state school but still, can't they fund the Poms team without the girls selling popcorn?
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 17:49     Subject: required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
Anonymous wrote:My kid plays a varsity sport at a W school and there definitely is not a team dinner before every game or any type of “donation” request. This feels really strange to me.


There you have it. If it’s not done at a W school it must not be a thing. Feel free to ignore the request and if you get called on it point out that it’s not done at W schools.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2024 17:32     Subject: required "dues" for MCPS sports team?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t see the issue OP. Just don’t participate.


Just make sure that your child isn’t there mooching nuggets…


You can have parents order a meal per game and tell them this is the options and costs. To demand a fixed amount going to another parents bank account is not ok.


This isn't a travel or any kind of private team. It's a school team. It would be fine if there is an opt-in system (if you want your kid to participate, here are the dues). It would be fine if it were a coordinated order where people choose what they want, pay for it, and a parent picks it up and delivers it to school. Frankly, this sounds easier and better. Surely most kids would put pressure on parents to participate, but that's a whole different thing. But any kind of mandatory fee (the email clearly indicates it is not voluntary and the coach is cited as part of it) should not be part of an MCPS team.