Twinsburg presents fee plan for 2025–26: $350 preschool tuition increase, pay‑to‑participate rules unchanged

Superintendent Kathy Powers presented the Twinsburg City School District’s proposed student fees for the 2025–26 school year, recommending a $350 tuition increase for both preschool programs, a $100 discount for families who pay by Aug. 4, and no increase to academic fees. The presentation also left pay‑to‑participate fees at 30% of program costs and recommended fee reductions for families eligible for the federal meal program.

Powers, the district superintendent, said the two preschool offerings — the integrated preschool program (IPP), which is four days per week and supports students with disabilities and peer models, and the kindergarten preparatory program (KPP), which is five days per week — have grown and are “gold rated.” She said the administration recommends a $350 tuition increase for each program and a payment deadline of Monday, Aug. 4; families who pay by that date would receive a $100 discount.

The nut graf: the administration proposed keeping academic fees unchanged, maintaining pay‑to‑participate fees at 30% of a program’s total cost (the district covers the remaining 70%), continuing the family cap ($500 this year) and recommending that students eligible for the federal meal program receive waivers or reduced fees (for pay‑to‑participate, a 50% reduction for eligible students).

Finance staff provided several illustrative figures: athletics generated about $207,000 in pay‑to‑participate revenue this year; high‑school clubs and activities about $25,000; and districtwide fees generated roughly $2,248,000 in total revenue. The family cap in the current year supported 57 families and saved them about $13,000 in fees. Administrators said 272 families used federal meal‑program waivers to save a total of about $8,000 in pay‑to‑participate fees this year.

Powers said academic fees will be waived for students eligible for free or reduced meals if parents submit the required online waiver (the district moved applications to an online portal). The recommended pay‑to‑participate policy keeps fees at 30% of program costs and continues the board practice of waiving or reducing fees for students who qualify for federal meal assistance, and the district offers payment plans for eligible families.

On food‑service pricing, the administration recommended keeping breakfast and lunch prices unchanged for 2025–26 but noted the district will raise the price of milk from 50¢ to 75¢ because of higher supplier costs.

Powers and business staff emphasized the goal of balancing affordability and program sustainability. Officials said the proposed preschool tuition, even with the increase, remains lower than many local private providers and that the district provides transportation to preschool programs — an added service the district does not always see in private providers.

The presentation was informational; the transcript records the recommendations and supporting figures but does not show a board vote on the fee schedule at this meeting. Administrators said the fee documents and assumptions will be posted on the district website and that parents can contact the athletic director or finance office with questions about pay‑to‑participate or payment arrangements.