What's normally free for thousands of Duval County students could very well start coming at a price.

The athletic director for the School District recently presented a pay to play proposal to the School Board because the district is poised to face a large deficit next school year.

The proposal is that student-athletes pay a flat fee of $75 per sport, per student to be on a school team. There would be some exceptions in place.

"I think it's crazy," said Tina McGuire, a sophomore at Englewood High School. "People want to do stuff that they love, yet you're sitting there having to pay for that?"

Possible budget cuts figures | High school figures | Middle school figures

McGuire said she's interested in trying out for track next school year, but she said not having the money to pay to play could stop her.

School District spokeswoman Jill Johnson said the board would ultimately have to sign off on the proposal.

"We wish we weren't in the boat we are in now, but we are having to make some tough decisions and look at all of our options, and this is one of those," Johnson said.

The fee would affect middle and high school students, and the estimated savings to the district would be about $425,000. Students with free and reduced lunches would be exempt and could still play for free.

The proposal also calls for some other cost-cutting measures, such as limiting out-of-county travel to 50 miles one way, not including certain series events. The athletic director is also looking at reducing financial supplements in middle and high schools.

Janae Brown, a ninth-grader who plays basketball at Englewood, is concerned about the possible $75 fee.

"That's not a lot to me, but a lot of people can't afford that," she said. "It wouldn't be a lot of people playing sports. There's not a lot of girls playing basketball anyway. I don't think they should do that."

Even though there were many groups that stepped up to help save sports this school year, district leaders say they're not sure they can count on that again.

"I think we're still going to work with our community partners to see what we can get," Johnson said. "I don't think that we're going to get quite the outpouring of support like we did last year."