Post by momto4 on Mar 24, 2010 7:05:59 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2119466,2_1_AU24_INDPR_S1-100324.article
Indian Prairie to raise fees
March 24, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
By charging new user fees and increasing existing fees, the Indian Prairie School District hopes to keep all student activities running next year.
"We're actually trying to save programs by increasing fees," said Dave Holm, assistant superintendent for business.
"At the same time we're very cognizant our parents live in the same environment we're struggling with, the same economy we're struggling with. And we have to be very careful about increasing those fees."
So if a student cannot afford the cost of the program, he or she will still be allowed to participate.
"We have no intention for these fees to not allow any student an opportunity," Superintendent Kathy Birkett said. "That's extremely important for us."
Holm said Monday the plan to ensure all students have the option of taking part in activities goes beyond the district's traditional waiver program already in place.
"If a child wants to be in a program, somehow we're going to find a way to get them into that program," Holm said. "We know that's going to be some work, and we're not even sure what that is yet. We got some work to develop how we're going to approach that."
The plan could very well involve students themselves. Birkett said she's been contacted by students in several of the Kids Helping Kids groups run by student councils at several schools.
"They want to be sure, 'Should we be increasing our dollars in that so we can support friends who want to go on a field trip and can't afford it?'" she said. "I think we're going to be seeing more and more of that, of helping each other."
In an effort to close the estimated $12.2 million state funding gap in next year's budget, Indian Prairie looked at ways to increase revenue. It's been four years since the district last increased its fees, Holm said. During the last few months the district has heard from parents who said they would rather write a check than see a program eliminated.
Fee changes proposed include doubling the athletics/activities fee. Middle school fees will increase from $50 to $100, High school fees will double from $80 to $160.
"This will raise our athletic fees to a higher level than a number of our neighboring districts," Holm said.
The driver education fee will increase from $200 to $350. It costs about $600 per pupil for drivers' ed, but the state only allows districts to charge $350 per student.
The technology fee will increase from $30 to $40, and a new after-school activity bus fee will charge students $1 per ride.
"These buses cost us over $60,000 a year, and there is no reimbursement for that service," Holm said.
Next year all field trips are going to be self-supported.
Indian Prairie to raise fees
March 24, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
By charging new user fees and increasing existing fees, the Indian Prairie School District hopes to keep all student activities running next year.
"We're actually trying to save programs by increasing fees," said Dave Holm, assistant superintendent for business.
"At the same time we're very cognizant our parents live in the same environment we're struggling with, the same economy we're struggling with. And we have to be very careful about increasing those fees."
So if a student cannot afford the cost of the program, he or she will still be allowed to participate.
"We have no intention for these fees to not allow any student an opportunity," Superintendent Kathy Birkett said. "That's extremely important for us."
Holm said Monday the plan to ensure all students have the option of taking part in activities goes beyond the district's traditional waiver program already in place.
"If a child wants to be in a program, somehow we're going to find a way to get them into that program," Holm said. "We know that's going to be some work, and we're not even sure what that is yet. We got some work to develop how we're going to approach that."
The plan could very well involve students themselves. Birkett said she's been contacted by students in several of the Kids Helping Kids groups run by student councils at several schools.
"They want to be sure, 'Should we be increasing our dollars in that so we can support friends who want to go on a field trip and can't afford it?'" she said. "I think we're going to be seeing more and more of that, of helping each other."
In an effort to close the estimated $12.2 million state funding gap in next year's budget, Indian Prairie looked at ways to increase revenue. It's been four years since the district last increased its fees, Holm said. During the last few months the district has heard from parents who said they would rather write a check than see a program eliminated.
Fee changes proposed include doubling the athletics/activities fee. Middle school fees will increase from $50 to $100, High school fees will double from $80 to $160.
"This will raise our athletic fees to a higher level than a number of our neighboring districts," Holm said.
The driver education fee will increase from $200 to $350. It costs about $600 per pupil for drivers' ed, but the state only allows districts to charge $350 per student.
The technology fee will increase from $30 to $40, and a new after-school activity bus fee will charge students $1 per ride.
"These buses cost us over $60,000 a year, and there is no reimbursement for that service," Holm said.
Next year all field trips are going to be self-supported.