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Jersey Shore Area SD board opens review of high school parking fee, directs staff to update handbook
Summary
Board discussed history and purpose of the $20 student parking fee, heard concerns about documentation and equity, and asked staff to investigate placard costs and formalize a policy in the student handbook.
At its Sept. 22 meeting, the Jersey Shore Area School District Board of School Directors discussed the high school student parking fee and asked staff to research how the fee was set and return with a recommendation to memorialize any change in the student handbook.
The discussion began when Doctor Ulmer, board member, said the district lacks clarity on how the current fee was established: "We don't have clarity even in our research how we determine where the cost of the parking came from," Ulmer said. He said the district's parking placard program once charged "like, 3 or $4" and now charges $20.
The board heard several practical and equity concerns. Missus Thomas, board member, and other members said the placards collect vehicle and insurance information that the district uses for safety and administrative reasons. "You do need a process so that you're sure you have collected the information the student can drive. They are covered with insurance, and they're in your parking lot," Thomas said.
Mister Arbruister, who initially raised the issue with staff, and Doctor Ulmer said they would examine the cost basis for the placards and how many are issued each year before proposing a change. Enders, the district's business manager/treasurer, told the board that revenue from parking placards is recorded in the general fund.
Board members gave approximate counts and context: the district estimated roughly "in the 200 range" for the number of placards distributed in a typical year and noted national patterns showing fewer high-school students driving than in past decades. Ulmer added that the matter "is gonna be a 26, 27 conversation," indicating the board expects to treat it during the upcoming school-year planning cycle.
Rather than change the fee immediately, the board directed Doctor Ulmer and Mister Arbruister to gather the placard cost, counts, and comparable districts' fees and return with a recommendation. Ulmer emphasized that any final fee should be included in the student handbook so it is memorialized and consistent year to year.
The discussion occurred under unfinished business and did not include a formal motion to change the fee; the board did not adopt any new fee at the meeting.
