Parents of District 205 will continue to not pay fees for getting students into schools or activities related to school.
The Board of Education on Monday night approved the policy of no fees for a second year, after starting the current school year without those fees.
Jennifer Hamm, the District’s Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations, says that the district was continuing the policy of not putting any barriers between students and school or related activities.
“We basically don’t have school fees anymore,” Hamm said to the board. “The board made the decision last year to eliminate all registration fees, all activity fees, basically any barrier for any of our students coming to our school, wanting to participate in an activity. So tonight, I’m bringing forth the same proposal that we would keep all of those fees eliminated for next year.”
There are still some fees though. Student parking would remain at $20. Drivers Education would remain at $200.
The cost of lunches did increase in accordance with USDA requirements for lunch prices to be raised to match government reimbursement amounts.
Additionally, the school is providing supplies for students. Hamm says that the only thing being asked of students is to come to school with a backpack and reusable water bottle.
Board members were also informed the district is seeing savings from the solar panels that were installed outside of several buildings.
Superintendent Dr. John Asplund informed the board that the average electricity costs had been reduced from the year before.
“Solar panels are having a positive impact on our bill. Basically, if you look at the buildings we have on [the bill]: Steele, Lombard, King, Silas Willard, and Churchill… last year we averaged about $26,500 a month in energy bills, and this year we’re a little under $15,000 a month. So, if you extrapolate that out for a year, that would be a savings of about $139,000”
He said that it’s tough to compare this year’s bills with last year. Most likely because of the Coronavirus pandemic and renovation work being done at the buildings.
