The Sioux Falls School District’s new system for cashless tickets for district-sponsored activities, athletics and fine arts events came under fire at the school board meeting on Monday night.
Three local residents voiced their opposition to the new system during public comment time.
The district announced the new platform, a partnership with Iowa-based company Bound, on July 24 as part of its “ongoing commitment to enhancing convenience, safety and efficiency for our students, parents and community members,” according to a press release.
Community relations coordinator DeeAnn Konrad said there was no cost to the district to use Bound.
Criticism for cashless ticketing
Susan Luschas, a Brandon resident with two children who open enrolled to Lincoln High School, organized an informal social media campaign against the cashless event ticketing and argued it discriminates against people without smartphones and credit cards. She said cash is a legal tender, lawful and an individual choice for “financial freedom” to use over a credit card.
Luschas encouraged other people opposed to the policy to contact their school’s activities director to pay with cash or check, and/or get a printed QR code.
She also said at the meeting that her family makes the choice for their children not to have smartphones or social media, and was opposed to “requiring smartphones to get into events.”
Nikki McCormick questioned if the district was including everyone by going cashless and said “digital currency gives the government direct control over citizens and their bank accounts.”
She also wondered how credit card fees incurred by businesses like the district when customers use credit cards to pay for a transaction will be covered by the district, and questioned if that cost would ultimately be passed onto taxpayers.
Kathy Sullivan said her father taught her “always take cash with you; you never know when you might not be able to use a credit card.” She said she won’t visit some businesses in town that won’t take or break a $50 bill.
“I’m not saying (cashless ticketing) is a bad idea, but I think sometimes when you think things through a little bit more… The old ways are sometimes the best ways to maintain,” Sullivan said.
District went for ‘convenience, enhanced safety, efficiency and environmental impact’
The district opted to use Bound for its “convenience, enhanced safety, efficiency and environmental impact,” it initially said in a press release, noting contactless payment has “become the norm around the country.”
Parents, students and community members can purchase tickets online anytime, anywhere with Bound without needing to stand in line, to create event bottlenecks or to have exact change, the release stated. It’s also sustainable and environmentally-friendly to reduce paper ticket use, and digital transactions reduce the need for physical cash handling “minimizing the risk of theft or loss.”
Tickets can be purchased through the district website or Bound app, then stored on a smartphone or printed for convenience.
Card readers will be available at gates. However, cash and checks will no longer be accepted at the gate prior to events.
“We understand not everyone may have access to digital devices. Assistance is available by reaching out to the activities office at any of our four high schools,” the press release stated. “Staff will be happy to help you navigate the new system and ensure you have access to the events.”
Ticket prices for athletic contests and music concerts are $6 for adults, and $4 for students and senior citizens age 60 and up. These prices increased by one dollar from the last school year, marking the first fee increase in more than a decade.
“This cost is still extremely affordable and is in line with entry fees (at) other school districts,” athletics coordinator Casey Meile said.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls School District faces opposition to cashless ticketing system
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