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 only people who can use it for free are the school district,” she told the board, and urged inclusion of a waiver or memorandum-of-understanding process to protect common community users.

Why this matters: The board framed the policy change as an effort to simplify and make facility fees reflect actual costs — not to generate profit — but acknowledged the revised language had caused confusion among long-standing community groups. Trustees said they wanted to preserve access for organizations that primarily serve district students while ensuring custodial and staffing costs are covered.

During discussion, Superintendent Wimmer recommended splitting the package: move immediately to adopt the fee reductions the board already identified so savings are recorded for the new fiscal year, while pausing other structural changes until district staff can notify, consult with, and propose clearer categorization for each community group. Wimmer told the board administration would “go back and do a little bit more due diligence in that communication and implications for people.”

Board members repeatedly emphasized two competing goals: keeping fees near cost so taxpayers are not subsidizing outside groups unnecessarily, and recognizing long-standing donations or partnerships that had previously allowed some groups free or reduced access. Board member Jenkins noted most fees in the revised schedule had been reduced from previously published rates and that the change chiefly affected groups that had not previously been covered by a fee schedule.

The board approved a motion directing administration to implement the fee reductions effective July 1 and to return with a refined policy and targeted outreach explaining which organizations fall into which categories and why. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Trustees also asked that policy committee convene in August to review final language and communications before full re-adoption of the comprehensive policy.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting: Chuck Beinborn said his youth football program had donated $50,000 toward turf installation, pays roughly $60,000 annually to operate (about $35,000 from registrations and roughly $20,000 for equipment and other costs), and estimated the new fees would total about $4,500 a year for his organization. Superintendent Wimmer said the district previously considered delaying any fee increases until January but recommended advancing identified reductions to July 1 and returning with clearer categorization and communications.

Next steps: Administration will identify each organization type affected, provide specific notices to groups, and return proposed clarifications and waiver/MOU language to the board. Trustees asked for a before/after comparison in communications that shows prior treatment, the new fee or waiver status, and the rationale for each classification.

Ending: Trustees thanked members of the public for raising concerns and said they valued additional outreach before finalizing the comprehensive policy.