Fees increase in Dist. 73

Student fees in Hawthorn Elementary District 73 will increase for the 2011-12 school year to be more in line with other districts and generate an estimated $200,000 in revenues, officials said. The school board on Monday approved fees of $110, up from $47, for grades 1 to 5 and $150, up from $87, for grades 6 to 8. Kindergarten fees would stay the same until 2012-13 when they would increase from $43 to $75. Band and orchestra fees would nearly triple to $150 per year and a fee of $50 per year would be added for chorus. Several actions are being considered to increase revenue and cut spending in an amount from $1.5 million to $2 million as the district looks to balance the budget for the coming school year.