South-Western City Schools Board of Education members on Oct. 12 unanimously passed legislation that would implement a pay-to-play system if the Nov. 3 operating levy passes.

The legislation set fees at $150 per student per sport for high school athletics, $100 per marching band participant, $75 per student per sport in middle school athletics and $20 per participant per activity for clubs.

Also, the legislation set an annual cap of $500 per family. No waiver will be offered based on financial need.

Although she voted in favor of the legislation, board member Amy Baker said she feared the trend participation fees will impose upon the district's students.

"A public institution should offer an equal opportunity for every child, not just those children with financial ability," Baker said. "The value of a child should not be based on their parents' net worth."

Board member Randy Reisling said he would prefer to expand school programs and opportunities for students, not to make cuts, especially to extracurricular activities.

"You can blame the board," he said. "You can blame anybody you want, but the fact is this the only way we know. We are not holding these kids hostage. We are simply trying our best."

The participation fees would be set only if Issue 47, a 7.4-mill continuous operating levy passes Nov. 3.

Issue 47 would cost homeowners an additional $227 annually per $100,000 of property value. It would generate about $18.5-million annually.

If the levy passes, school officials would restore extracurricular activities with participation fees, reinstate busing as it was last school year and extend building hours beyond classroom hours, said deputy superintendent Phil Warner.

If the levy fails, Warner said officials would need to cut $8-million from the annual budget.

He said all cuts made for the current school year would remain in place if the levy fails.

Officials would work with the three employee unions, the community advisory group and results from a voluntary performance audit by the state to cut $3-million, Warner added.

He said officials would make further cuts to busing, saving $600,000 annually. They also would cut professional support staff by 10 positions, instructional staff by 55 positions and classified, or nonteaching, staff by 20 positions.

According to Warner's numbers, the lost positions would save the district about $4.4-million.

Fewer positions would increase class sizes, Warner added.

According to the Ohio Department of Education, South-Western school district had about 20 students for every teacher in the 2007-08 school year.

Warner said district officials would cut ties with the Metro School and Mosaic programs, a Columbus-based early college high school system offered to students in Franklin County school districts.

Cutting ties with the programs would save the district $40,000 annually, Warner added.

Also at the meeting, several residents took the last chance before Nov. 3 to speak at a school board meeting.

Terry Jones, leader of anti-levy campaign group South-Western Alternatives to Taxes, said voters should vote "no" for the levy because district employee salaries are disproportionate with other working members of the community.

Cindy Legue and Bob Ruth continued their campaign to expose what they characterized as wasteful district spending.

They criticized the district's salaries and health care costs, and remained steadfast in their contention that employee benefits are excessive.

Reisling said he, superintendent Bill Wise, treasurer Hugh Garside and representatives from the employee unions have agreed to increase health care costs to employees, saving the district $2.5-million over the next four years.

Wise said the "cost shift" from the district to employees is only the beginning of the savings on benefits.

"It's not the end by any means," he added. "We're not finished."

Jackson Township trustee Bill Lotz told board members most trustees of townships in the district are sympathetic to the district's plight.

He handed board members a resolution of support adopted by all three trustees from both Jackson and Pleasant townships, two trustees in Franklin Township and Grove City Mayor Richard "Ike" Stage.

Several other speakers gave reasons why voters should choose "yes" on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Representatives of the district's parent-teacher organizations endorsed the levy.

James Swearingen, music composer and arranger, said he will vote for the levy for the district's children, residential property values and to bring back community pride.

"These are real issues that are worthy of making the sacrifice on behalf of our school district," he said. "The choice is clear: You can continue to be angry and play the blame game, or you can stand up and make an immediate change for the better by voting 'yes' on Issue 47."

John Hampson, a guidance counselor at Grove City High School, said the schools can unite the community.

"It is time for us to put aside our petty squabbling ... and move on," he said. "I believe in the power of this community to do what is right by this school district."

Steve Funk said high-quality school systems cannot be "provided on the cheap."

"There is no good that can come from the failure of this levy," he said.

Reisling echoed Funk's sentiment.

"We cannot cut our way out of this issue," he said. "It's up to you to vote 'yes' for this levy, or 'no' for this levy. We cannot cut our way to success."