LISBON – The Lisbon Board of Education considered, and rejected, a proposal by high school Principal and Athletic Director Eric Burke to charge an admission fee at basketball games.

Any additional money raised by an admission fee would go directly to the athletic director, said Mr. Burke.

Board President Blake P. Gendebien said he would not be opposed to raising the fee, but was not committed either way.

Mr. Burke said the fee “would be $1.00 per person,” equaling roughly $1,000 added to the athletic budget every year. This is less, he noted, than the $2-3,000 raised every year by concession stands.

Board Member Marc Montroy said, “I don’t like the idea of charging a parent to watch their children play.” He added that the cost of championship games is pricey for families anyway.

“It doesn’t raise enough money anyway,” said Board Member Scott Walker of the proposed fee.

Mr. Walker also noted that it would not be fair to charge for basketball games and not for other sporting events.

The board turned the fee down and Mr. Gendebein said if the athletics department wants to raise more money they need to sell more at the concession stands.

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