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ACLU Challenging Pay to Play Sports in N. Smithfield

Chris Boardman

Story Created: Dec 21, 2009 at 1:45 PM EDT

Story Updated: Dec 21, 2009 at 1:45 PM EDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A civil liberties group is challenging a
North Smithfield school system policy that charges students a fee to play sports.

The Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union
said Monday it had filed an administrative complaint with the state education department.

It says the policy, which requires a $150 fee from students
seeking to play sports, violates state law. It also asks the school
district to return to parents any money they've already paid.

School officials have said the fee is a necessary alternative
during tough economic to cutting their sports programs. They've
said they haven't aggressively pursued the fee from all student
athletes.

Superintendent Stephen Lindberg did not immediately return a
call seeking comment Monday.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


Monday, Dec 21 at 3:59 PM Stormin from Somerset wrote ...

ACLU...arent these the people who banned the Easter Bunny in Tiverton RI a couple of years ago? Fools.

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Monday, Dec 21 at 3:30 PM Marc wrote ...

I have lived in 8 different states and have never heard of kids families paying for school sports until I moved to the New England. Moving here reminds me of the "stone age".

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Monday, Dec 21 at 3:18 PM Paulo wrote ...

The question does not hinge on your mere opinions. The question is whether it is legal to charge these kids. You are more than welcome to change the law, assuming it may be in conflict with the school's policy. The school can't just do whatever it wants to do to raise money for sports.

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Monday, Dec 21 at 2:19 PM Phil G wrote ...

The alternatives to a fee are to cut sports or raise taxes. Which one would the ACLU (American Communist Liberation Union) favor instead of a fee?

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Monday, Dec 21 at 2:05 PM Fred wrote ...

We are entitled to free education. We are not entitled to free athletics. It should be based on families ability to pay.

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