City school officials are drafting a pay-to-participate policy that would include athletics, a policy that many say would have negative consequences at all three city high schools, but particularly bad at West High School.

Facing a budget crisis that could lead to layoffs in the city, Manchester school officials discussed the proposal as a way to save money.

The policy could have a big impact on West, which is already facing the challenge of fielding teams while no longer being able to turn to Bedford athletes.

With or without the pay-to-play policy, several Blue Knight teams are likely to get the ax because of low numbers, including hockey, field hockey, golf, swimming, nordic skiing and boys lacrosse.

Manchester School Board member Stephen Dolman said he does not see pay-to-play as a good option.

“My opinion is that it’s not the best way to go. I don’t believe in pay to participate,” said Dolman. “It would be devastating and you’d lose at least 30 percent of participants. That’s unfair and it becomes a system of haves and have nots.”

Fellow board member Chris Hebert said the proposal likely wouldn’t be across the board, meaning the teams which cost the most for the schools to operate would cost athletes money to participate.

Hebert used hockey as one example as that, and said the potential policy is far from set in stone.

“It’s got to be modified of course,” said Herbert. “I don’t think it’s a one-size fits all kind of thing. We have to tailor it so we can maintain as many of the sports that we can afford, but also share the cost.”

Board member Katherine Labanaris said she wonders how students who can no longer afford to play varsity sports will choose to spend the free time that they would have.

Labanaris said the Blue Knights would be the school most impacted by the change.

“At West in particular, it would death knell. It would decimate the programs at West,” said Labanaris. “I think it’s the duty of the people who craft budgets and pass budgets to fund the school district so it can have an athletic program that serves the needs of the students.”

In many cases, Dolman said having students participating in sports goes much further than wins and losses.

“All these programs are a part of a child’s education. Many people say that sports are what kept them in school,” said Dolman. “That can be a carrot to keep them going, and other students it can be a way to earn a college scholarship. It’s about educating the student as a whole, and this is a big part of that.”