Certain clubs and academic teams at LZHS make students pay a registration fee just to join the club, in addition to normal registration fees for the school year.

            Out of 36 clubs and activities offered at the school, eleven groups charge an admission fee for students to join the club. The fee helps to cover expenses that students would normally have to pay for.

            “The $50 registration fee for fall Color Guard helps to pay for the uniform parts that we use, like t-shirts, velvet pants, and shoes. In Winter Guard, we charge about $300, but the money goes towards competition entry fees, a choreographer, and uniform parts,” Libby Reimann, social studies teacher and Color Guard sponsor, said.

            Normal expenses are not over the top, and help to lower extra fees for students, according to Rachna Lad, sophomore and member of the Math Team.  

            “The $25 I have to pay just to be on Math Team isn’t that bad. It covers transportation costs and entry fees for contests and competitions. The only [additional] thing that is out of pocket is a t-shirt, which is only ten dollars, and it’s optional,” Lad said.

            However, for larger groups, such as band, there are some expenses for students that the registration fees do not cover.

            “Members of band do have to pay money for certain things. Usually they have to pay for trips, tuxedo shirts for the uniforms, band camp, and if we go to a festival or an evening concert,” Josh Thompson, band director, said. “We try to help the students out as much as we can.”

            The fees that some students might have to pay do add up, which is why most academic groups will be given a budget from the school. LZHS supplies certain clubs with a budget to spend throughout the year. Costs that are not included in the budget must be paid for by the students or by fundraising, according to Thompson.

            “The band shares a budget with the rest of the music department. The budget helps band and orchestra buy new instruments and repair old ones, and it helps pay for new pieces of music for band, orchestra, and choir. Also, we usually do some fundraisers like Band Boosters to help pay for things not covered by the budget,” Thompson said.

            Even with budgets, the fee students have to pay to be in certain clubs is necessary since it helps cut costs for students, according to Lad.

            “The cost isn’t really that bad and I think it is needed. It makes it cheaper for students who are part of clubs and it makes it easier, too,” Lad said. “I would rather pay the cost and be part of a club because it’s worth it.”