West Bend board approves interim reductions to facility fees, agrees to revisit categories after public concerns

The West Bend Joint School District No. 1 board voted June 23 to implement parts of an updated facilities-use fee schedule beginning July 1 while pausing other changes and asking administration to return with clearer group definitions and outreach.

The vote followed public comments from youth-sports and nonprofit representatives who said the proposed policy as written would threaten volunteer-run programs and community access. Chuck Beinborn, a football coach at West Bend East, told the board his youth organization donated $50,000 toward the turf installation and uses district facilities “8 months out of the year.” He said the proposed fees would amount to “about $4,500 in fees for the year” and would “really hurt our organization” that currently spends about $60,000 annually to operate.

Jessica Frederick, a resident and parent, said the draft policy collapsed eight prior user categories into three and removed explicit references to PTOs, booster clubs and youth sports. “The way it reads right now, the…