Board proposes eliminating most activity and athletic fees; driver's education fee to remain with outreach promised

District leaders told the school board on April 9 they will recommend eliminating nearly all remaining student activity and athletic fees for 2025–26, reduce parking permit costs and retain a driver's education fee while continuing to seek ways to help families who cannot pay.

In a written report presented at the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Julie Conrad Peters said the district has worked to reduce fees each year to increase access and will recommend eliminating high school athletic fees and activity fees. School leaders reported that approximately $65,000 in activity and athletic fees were collected at the high school level in 2023–24 and that the district is tracking about $30,000 year-to-date for the current school year. The staff proposal would reduce the parking permit fee to $20 and lower the replacement permit fee to $10; the prior amounts cited were $45 and $20 respectively.

Conrad Peters said the district will "take down barriers" by moving these costs into building and district budgets. She recommended maintaining a driver's education fee at $425 for classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction but said a mechanism now exists for families to apply for the fee to be paid directly to the district. Board members noted the Wisconsin Department of Transportation driver education funding for the current fiscal year has been exhausted and pressed the administration to actively notify families about fee-waiver or payment assistance options.

Dr. Barbara Herzog, a board member, said the district must proactively inform families — including English-language learners and new immigrants — that a reduced or waived fee may be available. "Finding $425 in your budget when you're struggling to pay rent or put food on the table is problematic," Herzog said, asking the administration to report on outreach plans and counts of students who still need either classroom or behind-the-wheel instruction.

Students who spoke during the meeting (unnamed in the transcript) told the board that school-provided driver education is convenient because classes and behind-the-wheel sessions drop students off and return them to school, which can be more reliable than outside providers.

Administrators said detailed fee changes and any resolution will be brought to the board for formal approval at an upcoming meeting; they also said they will track participation and bring information back as part of regular reporting on access to programs.