McKinney ISD is charging parents a $200.00 "junk fee" if they elect to have their children complete their PE credit off campus.  According to the TEA (State of Texas Education Agency) there are no fees required for off campus PE, it is at the districts discretion, and while some districts do charge a nominal administrative fee most do not.  McKinney ISD is charging parents $200.00!  Per Year!  They call it a "participation fee" and a "class fee", but refuse to indicate exactly what this fee is for, where it goes, and what it covers.  The only response is:  "Every student enrolled in the Off Campus PE program is required to pay the course fee of $200 in order to be eligible."  In the meantime they are holding children's schedules hostage and sticking them in classes they do not belong in until the fee is paid, so every day students are falling behind in academic and other elective classes because they will not "approve" the application until they have their money.  This includes high-school level classes!  This is so wrong that they extort money from parents and put children's futures in jeopardy (high school credits, GPA's, college admittance, etc.) and that we allow them to continue this practice.  $200 for 5 minutes of admin work?  That's all I can assume because McKinney ISD has refused to indicate what the fee is specifically used for.  I would love to make $2400 per hour...but I don't know who is being paid that much because they refuse to acknowledge where the money is going and why they require the payment when other districts do not. Below is a list of "eligible" sports for off-campus PE, but unless you pay the $200.00 fee, the district will not approve the application.  Directly from the McKinney ISD Website:

"**ATTENTION**: Only students involved in the activities of ARCHERY, ART SKATING, DANCE, EQUESTRIAN, FENCING, WAKE BOARDING, GYMNASTICS, ICE HOCKEY, ICE SKATING, LACROSSE, MARTIAL ARTS, MIDDLE SCHOOL GOLF, MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER, MIDDLE SCHOOL SWIMMING, ROCK CLIMBING, ROWING, AND TRACK CYCLING will be considered for participation.

For this application to be considered for any semester, it must be completed online or mailed, along with the correct participation fee to Karin Klemm #1 Duval St., McKinney, TX 75069"

Please help me stand up to the district and let them know parents have had enough.  Right now my child is falling behind daily in a Spanish class he is supposed to be taking for high school credit because they won't let him into the correct class until they receive a check.  Public School education is supposed to be free, and in McKinney our property taxes certainly should cover it.  Every day he is wasting time in a class he shouldn't be in and falling behind in a high school language class, is concerned he won't get an A and he will not make all A Honor Roll and lose his chance to become a member of the National Honor Society, and it's ridiculous we've put up with this administrative abuse for so long.  

Please contact Superintendent Rick McDaniel at McKinney ISD and your school board representatives to let them know we've had enough.  

Dr. Rick McDaniel, Superintendent McKinney ISD -- Phone: 469-302-4070, Email: rmcdaniel@mckinneyisd.net

Current School Board Members

Maria McKinzie – District 1
MISDPlace1@McKinneyISD.net

Kenneth Ussery – District 2
MISDPlace2@McKinneyISD.net

Kathi Livezey – District 3
MISDPlace3@McKinneyISD.net

Amy Dankel – District 4
Vice President
MISDPlace4@McKinneyISD.net

Lynn Sperry – District 5
MISDPlace5@McKinneyISD.net

Stephanie O’Dell – At Large
Secretary
MISDPlace6@McKinneyISD.net

Curtis Rippee – At Large
President
MISDPlace7@McKinneyISD.net