The Middleton School District is implementing rental fees for its newly built soccer fields after allowing a for-profit athletic academy to use the facilities free of charge for more than a year, marking a reversal following the district’s failed May levy and mounting budget pressures across Canyon County schools.
Background on the Valrheim Soccer Complex
The Valrheim Soccer Complex at Middleton High School features artificial turf fields donated and constructed by local patron Ben McCallister, an unpaid coach for Global Sports Academy, a for-profit soccer club operating in the Treasure Valley. The first phase of the fields was completed in August 2025 and can be divided into eight smaller sections for rental purposes.
Global Sports Academy charges athletes between $995 and $2,195 per season. Despite the district maintaining a policy requiring payment for outdoor facility use, the academy operated on the fields without incurring rental costs throughout the past year. The district’s fee schedule, last updated in 2017, did not include pricing for the new fields, creating a gap in the rental structure.
How the Free-Use Policy Developed
Superintendent Marc Gee made the decision not to charge Global Sports Academy for field use without seeking approval from school trustees. The trustees had approved McCallister’s donation agreement in April 2025, but the facility rental decision remained separate.
In a statement acknowledging the oversight, Gee said, “Honestly, part of it is my fault because we were looking for ways to get people on the fields.” He also recognized the policy violation, noting, “Is it legal not to have a contract in place? Yes. Does it meet school policy? No.”
Global Sports Academy did make a single payment of $6,000 to the district, but this fell short of standard rental rates for regular field use over a full year.
Financial Pressures Driving Policy Change
The shift toward charging facility users comes as Middleton School District faces significant budget constraints following a May levy failure. The unsuccessful levy sought $3.97 million over two years to support operations. In response, the district announced 38 full-time position cuts for the coming year, including elimination of the seventh-grade football program.
The district has also raised student lunch fees, including a 25-cent increase in the price of milk cartons, reflecting broader cost pressures on families across Canyon County.
On July 13, Superintendent Gee presented a new facility rental policy proposal to the school board, moving to formalize rates and ensure compliance with district regulations going forward.
What Comes Next for Canyon County Families
The implementation of rental fees at the Valrheim Soccer Complex will bring the Middleton facility into line with district policy and other school amenities across the region. Organizations and athletic programs seeking to use the fields will now face standard rental charges, which the district is expected to finalize through its revised fee schedule.
The policy change reflects broader financial realities facing Idaho school districts as they navigate failed levies and reduced state funding. For families and youth sports organizations in Middleton and surrounding areas, the move signals that free access to public facilities may no longer be available as districts prioritize revenue generation to offset staffing cuts and operational shortfalls.