Board approves student fee schedule; district outlines earlier outreach for unpaid fees

The Troy school board approved the district’s student fee schedule for the upcoming school year and heard staff describe new procedures to identify and communicate unpaid fees earlier in the school year.

A staff presenter said the general student fee (K–12) remains $40 and that specific high school course fees were updated only where material costs increased (ceramics and some career‑center satellite course fees). The motion to approve the fee schedules carried at the meeting.

Staff described a change in practice for handling unpaid fees. Historically, unpaid balances often became a “gatekeeper” issue at graduation; staff said they will begin earlier outreach to families — including notices and payment‑plan options — so that unpaid fees do not accumulate unnoticed until the end of the year. The high school principal, Mrs. Diedrich, and district staff said the handbook language was revised to allow the district to restrict certain activities when fees are unpaid but emphasized they prefer to work with families and that fee waivers remain tied to the free and reduced‑price lunch application process.

Staff said families who qualify for free or reduced lunch have fees waived if they complete the application; families with questions about fees are encouraged to contact school principals or the district office to discuss payment plans or exemptions.

Board members noted the district’s fees remain low compared with neighboring districts and thanked staff for developing earlier communication strategies to reduce year‑end collections work and to minimize last‑minute consequences for students and families.