The proposal going before finance committee of the school board May 24 calls for a $50 fee for one sport and $75 for two or three sports.

If approved, the proposal would move before the full school board in June.

Under the proposal, fees would be reduced in half for students on free or reduced lunches. Also, school administrators at each high school would be allowed to waive the fee in some cases.

"What you don't want to do is deny a kid the opportunity to play based on his or her financial situation," said Al Hairston, athletic coordinator for Seattle Public Schools.

Dick Lee of the Office of School Partnerships, said the fee would be payable only if a student makes a team.

Hairston said revenue collected from the fee will go toward athletic-transportation costs. Lee said the measure might raise more than $150,000. He said the money is needed because revenue from vending machines has decreased because pop and junk food no longer are sold in school machines.

Most suburban school districts surrounding Seattle have "pay-to-play" in effect, Lee noted.

Lee said no fee is planned for public middle-school athletics.