Newcastle Public Schools announced that it is offering a more affordable way for students to pay for their entry into home sporting events. Athletic Director Brent Hodges said they are now offering a punch card which has a discounted rate.
With the card, students are able to attend any sporting event except football games for the price of $2.25.
Some parents on social media were not happy, saying they believed that students should be able to attend free.
“We are going to introduce a new way for students to get access to home games more affordably, which we hope means more students at games,” Hodges said. “We are now offering a punch card for students. You get 20 punches on your card which equals 20 games. These are good for all games excluding football games and home playoff games for any sport.”
Hodges said the cost is $45 per card. The punch cards are good for NPS students in grades kindergarten through 12.
“It would normally cost $100 to go to 20 games,” Hodges said.
He added, “You can buy more cards if you use all of yours up.”
Limitations include that you can only buy for one student at a time, and the school is accepting only cash for the purchase. Parents are asked to please have their student’s name and grade ready at the time of purchase.
Hodges said the school began selling the cards starting Thursday, September 14, and they will continue throughout the year. Starting this week the cards are available at the front desk of the Administration building.
Or, for more information, email brent.hodges@newcastle. k12.ok.us.
As stated, not everyone was happy about the announcement, with some parents on social media saying that entry to athletic events should be free for students.
In rebuttal, one parent said they felt paying entry fees helps fund sports such as cross country, where fewer spectators are there.
Two other options supported by parents were the idea of making the punch cards digital, which would aid a child who had lost his or her card, and the idea of creating family passes.
