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School committee raises student parking and athletic fees after debate; keeps middle‑school sports fee unchanged
Summary
After extended discussion about affordability and participation, the North Middlesex committee approved a set of user‑fee changes for FY26 including a higher student parking fee and increased high‑school athletic and arts activity fees, while maintaining lower middle‑school fees and restoring percussion/winter‑guard fees to prior levels.
The North Middlesex Regional School Committee approved a package of user‑fee changes for FY26 on Wednesday that raises high‑school athletic and arts participation fees and increases the student parking permit fee, while keeping middle‑school sports fees at current levels and reverting percussion and winter‑guard fees to previous amounts.
The committee approved a motion that included multiple adjustments: the student parking permit increase (from $180 to $250), high‑school sports season fee increases, a change to marching‑band and drama ticket pricing proposals, and a decision to keep middle‑school sports fees at $100 while removing district‑provided transportation for many middle‑school away events. The committee also added a $25 late registration fee where applicable.
Superintendent Brad Morgan and Nancy Haines, who presented financial details, told the committee that transportation costs drive much of the gap between user fees and program costs. “Every time we take a bus from the school for an extracurricular event... it ranges from $500 to $2,000 round trip,” Morgan said, noting that a single long bus run can quickly erase the revenue from several participants’ fees. Nancy Haines added that the district’s food and activity revolving accounts are managed separately from the general fund and that athletic revolving funds have typically been close to breakeven; she reported the athletic revolving fund carried approximately $2,015 into the current fiscal year and asked the committee to consider participation trends and long‑term impacts.
The committee discussed equity concerns, family caps, and participation rates. Multiple members urged tracking participation trends before future increases. “Before I even consider $1 more, I want to see participation rates from the last three years,” said Committee Member Randy Roche. Others noted neighboring districts’ fee structures and suggested sponsorships and booster fundraising as partial offsets.
Despite the concerns, the motion to adopt the fee schedule as adjusted passed. Keenan Francois moved the measure and Patrick McPhillips seconded. When the final vote was recorded, the motion carried: Keenan Francois, Jill Twigg, Lisa Bloom, Kim Craven, Carrie Battersby, Alexander Bacuti, Patrick McPhillips and the chair voted yes; Randy Roche voted no. The committee’s minutes record the motion as approved and staff were directed to publish the new fee schedule to the community and finalize registration procedures before July sign‑ups.
Committee members asked administration to provide participation and revenue tracking throughout FY26 so the committee can assess whether fees reduce participation or substantially affect program balances. The committee also asked athletic staff to pursue sponsorship opportunities to reduce direct costs to families.
The approved fee adjustments take effect for the 2025–26 school year. Families qualifying for free or reduced lunch remain eligible for reduced fees (25% for free lunch, 50% for reduced lunch), and the committee reiterated that hardship assistance will be available on a case‑by‑case basis.
