Starting this year, the San Mateo Union High School District will subsidize events for all students with an ID card.
“The price can be a bit of a barrier, especially because it was increased last year or two years ago,” said senior ASB president Ellen Batsuuri. “I think [the change is] definitely prompting more people [to attend].”
The district analyzed obstacles against student involvement at Aragon, and found that cost was one of the largest barriers.
Staff and administrators deliberated and eventually budgeted $250,000 to pay for tickets.
“We want every kid to be able to fully participate in school,” said Superintendent Kevin Skelly. “Our view is: ‘Hey, we’ll get more kids there, it’ll be more enjoyable for them.’ And, it’s a good, wholesome thing to do on a Friday.”
The finances allocated will be calculated based on last year’s ticket sales.
“The district has requested information from me on what our [game] proceeds were last year, what the revenue was that we made last year,” said Aragon Financial Services Administrator Luci Tolfa. “[It is] my understanding that the district is going to supplement the athletic budget with money to offset our loss and revenue from the gate sales.”
Similarly, SMUHSD also paid to lower musical and play prices, granting $5,000 to the drama and music departments.
“Each school [funds events] differently, some of them have music, or music boosters [or] the drama boosters in charge for [tickets,]” Skelly said. “So we’re giving them $5,000.”
At Aragon, the drama boosters, including drama teacher and department head Shane Smuin, decided to admit a number of students for free at each performance.
“Students can get walk-ins, only for a dedicated student section,” Smuin said. “The committee decided that free tickets [would] only be for that night [of the performance].”
The board decided to make athletic contests free in order to make the events accessible to more students, believing prices for the tickets could have isolated some students from participating in an important high school experience.
The district hopes that by making these events free, students that couldn’t afford the tickets before will be able to join their peers on the bleachers and in the theater.
“We want every kid to be able to participate in school, regardless of their family’s economic position,” Skelly said. “We want them to hang around with their friends at the games … and so the best way to do that is to make [events] free.”
Smuin agreed with the district’s efforts to make events more approachable for students and the financial effects of making the events free did not concern him.
“I like the idea that it makes it accessible for students that normally can’t attend,” Smuin said. “[At] the high school level … no one’s doing it for the money.”
Skelly expressed enthusiasm over the change, witnessing the sports crowds from his office that neighbors San Mateo High School’s football field.
“So far, [many] are showing up at [school] events,” Skelly said. “The crowd seemed a little bit bigger, and kids are coming and are … having fun.”
Students agreed that the price reduction made it easier to attend eased the process of going to a game.
“I can come to the games whenever I want, so it’s so I think it’s pretty cool,” said junior Matthew Ko, who attended the football game against Capuchino on Sept. 27. “There’s no commitment.”
