District 214 likely to lower registration fees

Northwest Suburban High School District 214 will likely reduce registration fees by $100 for the 2015-2016 school year after hearing from families that the costs are too high.

The District 214 school board on Thursday discussed the idea of lowering fees from $460 per student to $360 per student next year, said Cathy Johnson, associate superintendent for finance and operations.

"For the last couple years we've heard from our families and they've told us how the fees are too expensive for them so we went back and evaluated that," Johnson said.

"We've been able to contain costs through our budgets, refine some of our spending and we've taken that savings we found in other areas to supplement the costs from fees."

For example, a reduction in printing and copying as the district goes more digital resulted in some savings, she said.

The District 214 fee covers textbook rental, instructional materials, digital learning, school calendars, one gym shirt, one lock, a pass to regular season home sports and activities, the school newspaper and more. Johnson said registration fees are not exactly comparable from district to district because some include different things than others.

The registration fee for District 214 remained constant from the 2013-14 school year to 2014-15 at $460 per student.

"We're just really excited to offer this for our families," said District 214 spokeswoman Jen Delgado. "The board was happy we were able to meet our families where they are and continue to work with them."

Other fees in District 214 will be staying the same for the 2015-16 school year. Students are subject to a $65 fee to participate in co-curricular activities and a $190 fee for parking. Some sports or activities have additional fees.

If registration fees are paid before July 31 of each year, there will be a $25 discount.

The bus transportation fee will remain at $540 for students living less than 1.5 miles from school. The fee for the behind the wheel portion of driver education will remain at $350, consistent with a waiver granted by the Illinois state legislature.

Fee waivers for students who qualify will still apply, Johnson said.

The school board appears receptive to the idea of lowering registration fees and will vote on it at the next meeting, 7 p.m. on Feb. 5 at Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights.