Despite no funding increase to operating grants and only small increases to other grant areas, Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS) board of trustees are raising school instructional material fees by only one dollar.
Trustees Barb Walker and Lorrie Jess were opposed to the raising the fee. Walker felt parents and students shouldn’t be paying the fee at all and Jess felt they should stay as they were. “I think this is high enough for parents.”
While there was no increase in the fee last year, Jess and Walker both took into account the fact there are also other fees set by the schools parents must pay.
For families unable to pay the fees, WCPS has “compassionate measures” to ensure those children still receive the same opportunities as other students.
The board also briefly discussed what it would mean to eliminate the fee. However, nothing came of the discussion and it was agreed the money collected by the fee is used effectively in schools. “It’s part of their budget,” said secretary-treasurer Joe Henderson.
“I do feel if we took this away, it would have a real effect on the school. They depend on it,” Trustee Donna Peterson agreed.
For the 2014/15 school year the rates will sit at: ECS $37, grades 1 to 6 $65, grades 7 to 9 $78, and grades 10 to 12 $91.
The Non-Resident Tuition fee also received a 5 per cent increase and will now run at $12,348.