Dist. 300 plans to keep fees steady
Community Unit District 300 parents and students should not expect any change to school fees next year.
The Carpentersville-based district last adjusted its fees in the 2009-2010 academic year, five years after the previous increase, according to MeriAnn Besonen, District 300’s finance director. Besonen told school board members Monday night she recommended the district maintain its fees for the 2013-2014 school year instead of implementing any increases.
Besonen said a survey of fees in surrounding districts showed District 300 near the average for elementary, middle and high school fees.
“With the current economic times, and since we’re right around the middle of the road, it seems logical that we would not change our fees,” Besonen said.
Costs are associated mostly with registration from prekindergarten through high school.
Board secretary Karen Roeckner expressed surprise about District 300’s rates for kindergarten, which are higher than those at Woodstock, Barrington and Elgin Area School District U-46. Besonen said decreasing fees isn’t being discussed, but in situations where District 300 is more expensive than neighboring districts, it is most logical to keep the current rates.
“We just want to maintain what we’re doing now,” Besonen said.
Pre-K registration is $90 this year with a $50 tuition registration fee and tuition costs from $135 to $250 based on how many days per week students are in the classroom. Registration fees in the rest of the schools range from $100 for kindergarten to $135 in high school.
Students also must pay for physical education shirts, shorts and locks in middle and high school, athletic participation at a rate of $75 per sport, and — at the high school level — ID replacement for $5. Families can choose to buy a “year in review” video from Dundee-Crown High School for $30, or high schoolers can spend $35 on the athletic event pass.
The board of education is expected to vote on the fee schedule at the Jan. 28 board meeting.
A list of fees is available on District 300’s website, d300.org, under the parents shortcut.