School fees get another look

School Board members are again questioning whether some fees charged to Elmbrook families violate district policy.

Board members Jean Lambert and Meg Wartman called for another look at fees this school year, asking for the topic to be added to a list of planned board discussions. Wartman said the district policy governing fees does not clearly define whether schools can charge fees that are not approved by the School Board.

"The policy that was written, and the practice that's now in place, I think is something we have to clear up now," Wartman said, "even before we start looking at whether or not we're increasing or reducing student fees."

Fees vary

Currently, the board sets the fees charged to all district students for materials, technology and the district nature center. Since 2004, annual districtwide fees have been $66 per elementary student, $76 per middle school student and $91 per high school student. Including athletic fees, Elmbrook collected just under $925,000 in fees during the 2008-09 school year. Fee revenue is not segregated, meaning it can be used for any district expenditure.

However, every Elmbrook school charges families additional fees for things like calculators, assignment notebooks, workbooks and headphones. The charges vary widely from school to school and among grades. While this practice has been going on for years, Wartman said it shouldn't be happening.

"I don't believe that's how the policy reads right now," she said, "and frankly I'm not comfortable with that scenario."

The policy in question states that "a semi-annual material fee will be charged for the rental of books and the use of materials, using a schedule developed by the superintendent and approved by the Board of Education. . . . Material fees will be determined by the board each year prior to May 31."

Wartman said she believes this means the board must approve any and all fees charged for materials, including the specific supply fees charged by each school.

Proposed hike sparked talk

The School Board first began talking about fees when district administrators proposed a fee hike for the 2009-10 school year. Superintendent Matt Gibson justified the increase, saying the additional income would help pay for an overdue textbook update. Board member David Marcello also defended the hike, saying it's fair for school users to pay more than taxpayers without school-age children.

However, Wartman and other board members vocally opposed the increases at each opportunity, calling for a comprehensive study of fees before any new fees were implemented or existing fees increased.

Administrators offered a softer fee increase, but the hike was eventually rejected when the board deadlocked in a 3-3 vote with Marcello absent.

As district staff prepare the 2010-11 budget, they could request fee increases again this year.

Further discussion

School Board President Tom Gehl agreed that the policy governing fees should be discussed again this year. He said the amount of discussion the topic garnered last spring and the potential budget impact of fees make the subject worth talking about again.

"I think it's a big enough issue to go ahead and capture it as a goal," Gehl said.

Though no timeline has been set for discussing fees, the conversation will need to take place prior to the board's May 31 deadline for determining next year's fees. The issue will likely be discussed at both the board's Policy & Legislative and Finance & Operations committees.