Dist. 211 keeps most fees level, offers meal tiers

A year ago Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 officials predicted an increase on a variety of school fees.

But on Thursday the struggling economy was on board members' minds as they voted to keep most of fees for the 2009-10 school year the same. However, the board approved a new tiered fee system for the breakfast and lunch program sponsored by the federal government. The low price on the tiered system remains the same as the price the district charged for meals this year.

"We thought the tiered system would be helpful to some of our families," Superintendent Nancy Robb said.

The government started the meal program in 1946 to offer reduced-cost meals to needy students. The district charges $1.95 for a lunch that costs $2.45 to make. Additionally, food prices have grown between 12 percent to 16 percent.

Officials will now give students three price options for lunch, at $1.95, $2.10 and $2.25. Money from the higher tiers would help offset increased food prices. School officials say three entrees will be available to all students each day, and everyone will have access to them.

Officials estimate breakfast and lunches will generate $2.7 million for the district's educational fund, which is the same amount estimated for this school year.

Robb said district officials have thought about increases to the fees over the last two years and have held off. District officials said they've seen more students participate in the program over the last three years, with that number increasing by 34 percent. Currently 2,470 students, or 20 percent of district enrollment, are eligible for meals at reduced cost.

Fees that will remain the same for the next school year include the transportation fee which stays at $170 to bus a student living less than 11/2 miles from school. Officials estimate the fee will bring in $73,100 next year, which is about 40 percent less than what transportation was supposed to bring in this year.

The driver education behind-the-wheel course fee stays at $350 per student, the student parking fee remains $65 per semester per student and the textbook-instructional supply fee remains at $160 per student.