Olathe board approves modest increases to student fees and meal prices, passes on credit-card merchant fee to users

The Olathe School Board approved the district’s recommended student fees and miscellaneous charges for the 2025–26 school year, voting 7–0 after discussion about cost pressures.

Chief financial and operations staff explained drivers for the changes, noting that instructional material fees (which cover online textbooks and software licenses) have been rising and the district is proposing a 5% increase for those fees. Staff said software licenses and online resources have fixed renewal schedules and costs that are harder to defer than printed textbooks.

The board approved a recommended 30¢ per meal increase to maintain the food-service fund’s self-sufficiency. Administrators explained that food service operates without general-fund support and that rising food prices and operating costs make price increases necessary. The district also recommended passing the credit-card merchant fee (approximately 4.5% per credit-card transaction) to families who pay by card; administrators said that if the district continued to absorb card fees, the per-meal increase would need to be higher (estimated at 43¢) to maintain the food-service fund balance.

Staff discussed transportation fees for choice-routing and noted a proposed $25 rise for families who pay for optional transportation; administrators said the increase offsets the cost of additional bus routes and that an early-bird discount is available. Board members asked whether food-service reimbursements for free and reduced-price meals fully cover costs; staff said they would verify federal/state reimbursement details and provide follow-up numbers.

Board members emphasized the district’s effort to keep fee increases minimal and noted the ongoing budget pressures, including a multimillion-dollar bus contract increase. The motion to approve the fees passed unanimously.