Financial Obligations

The Debate and Speech Team at Westwood High School is a nationally ranked team that provides students with access to the best coaching and resources in the country.  We can only do this with the support of our members and member families.

As a member of the team student and their families are responsible for various dues and fees.  Please review all sections. 

Typically you are on this page for one of three things

1. Start of the year 

a. Team Dues

b. Non-Participating Judging Fee

2. Paying an Selected Charge

a. Hotel Travel Fee

b. Tournament Late Drop Fee

c. Fundraiser Payment

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to dominic_henderson@roundrockisd.or of treasurer@westwooddebate.com

The following information is to assist you with paying for your students Team Dues.

The follow show the dues for the 2024-2025 school year.

$515*                  Local Squad              1-5 Tournaments              Eligible to attend Tournament in the Austin Area

$700*                  Regional Squad         6-10 Tournaments            Eligible to attend Tournament in Texas

$925 *                National Squad          10+ Tournaments             Eligible to attend any Tournaments

If your student wishes to increase their level of participation they may upscale at any point by simply paying the different in the level.

How do I pay?

All due must be paid to Westwood High School, BUT this can be done through our booster club.  Running a debate team is expensive and worth every penny. Running a nationally rank squad means more, so please read this thoroughly so we can maximize our opportunities of raising funds. 

FIRST - Verify with your employer whether they do matching fund to non-profit organizations.  Our booster are a 501(c)(3) is registered with Benevity.org, CyberGrants.com, and NPOconnect.   Many employers will match through one of these systems that amount your pay for dues.  We know that they folks presently match:

If you or your spouse work for one of these companies please reach out to your Human Resources about what documentation they might need.  Typically this just means providing them with our EIN#  which is 61-1531801 and them making payment via one of the above links to the boosters.  

If you discover that your employer matches and it is not listed please email our treasure so we can add them to our list.  If you have any issues with the process our treasure can also likely help you. More information may be found at https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/.

Treasurer@WestwoodDebate.com 

My employer does not match, what do I do?

Even if you and/or your spouse does not work for a non profit matching we have methods to process your funds via a match.  Please email treasurer@westwooddebate.com and ask about about working with a family that has matching space.

If this option does not work for you then you are welcome to send a check with your student made out to Westwood High School.  Please put your Drivers License # in the memo on and your child's name center at the top     OR   You may pay online at:

RRISDPAY.COM.  

Select High Schools then Westwood and then Debate and then Team Dues. 

The cliche is that it take a village, and that could not be more true than our program.  To maintain a nationally ranked program it requires a significant commitment from our staff.  We still cannot do it all.

In an effort to save families money and avoid hiring some additional staff we have opportunities for family to support the team with their time.   If you are able to be a material support in one or more of the following ways we can save you $250 from your team dues level.    

You have four options.  You can also do a little from each option.

1. Judge at local tournaments to help the team defer these cost.  You will be ask to judge on a Friday and/or Saturday at local contests.  We require that you judge at least once (1) for every four (4) tournaments that your student attends.  Judge training and additional resources are shared at the opening parent meeting and periodically throughout the year. 

2. Buy Out.  If you would rather simply pay the full amount of dues and not have to worry  you are covered for the year.  If you are choosing this option see payment information to pay the booster directly via corporate matching and so on.   

3. Get us a corporate donation in the equivalent amount of $250.  This can be achieved via your doctor or dentist simply sending a check to the booster club or you getting a local establishment to donate items for one of our events.  If you are interested in this option simply email team_information@westwooddebate.com for information about our events and the types of items that would be helpful.    Corporate Donation Letter

4. Provide Tournament Support.  Often we need parents to provide transportation to a regional tournament, travel with the team to a national tournament and above all assist with our UIL and TFA Tournaments in the form of proctoring, judging and proving help with the concession stand and hospitality room.

Every parent will receive periodic emails from the team about opportunities.  Once a family has met the team payment in kind you will be removed from the volunteer opportunity email for the year. If you have any questions about potential opportunities please email team_information@westwooddebate.com.