Some fees set to skyrocket in District U-46
The Elgin Area School District U-46 board Monday approved school fee increases for the first time in several years.
The move will allow the district, which plans to cut more than $31 million from next year's budget, to add roughly $125,000 to its coffers.
Students playing high school sports will be seeing the highest increase - adding $85 next year to the current $65 total, for a new fee of $150. Middle school sports fees will more than double, from $30 this year to $70 next year. Parking permit fees will increase by $40, to $100.
This is the first across-the-board increase since the 2006-07 school year.
Spokesman Tony Sanders said raising fees is one of just a few ways U-46 - grappling with a state aid crisis, a low inflation rate affecting how much the district can raise taxes, and a dramatic rise in home foreclosures - can boost its revenue. Increasing facility rental fees is expected to bring in another $70,000.
The $31 million in cuts, spelled out last week, will include closing an early childhood center, laying off hundreds of teachers, reducing administration costs and restructuring several programs.
The cuts are based on preliminary numbers and may be further adjusted depending on how much the state's education budget is cut, board members heard Monday.
District officials said that for quite some time, U-46 fees have been lower than surrounding districts' fees. This year, Carpentersville-based Community Unit District 300 charged $100 for half-day kindergarten. Even after a $6 hike, U-46 families will pay just $48 next year.
U-46 will also still have lower general high school fees than District 300, St. Charles District 303, and Burlington-based Central Community Unit District 301.
The Illinois School code requires all public schools to waive fees for low-income students and those who receive free breakfasts and lunches.
According to state report cards, 47.8 percent of the district's students came from low-income homes in 2009.
Fees: High school sports fee to jump to $150