Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Papillion La Vista reviews student fees, waivers and modest meal price increase
Summary
At a July 10 student-fees hearing, administrators outlined fee changes for 2025–26, described the district's waiver policy for families qualifying for subsidized meals, and said meal prices rose five cents after two recent increases.
The Papillion La Vista Community Schools Board of Education held a student-fees hearing on July 10 to review recommended charges for the 2025–26 year, including athletic and activity fees, school-owned instrument rental, and meal prices.
Administrators said families who qualify for subsidized meals under federal standards receive waivers that cover virtually all student fees. "If you do receive subsidized meals... we do provide a waiver for virtually all fees," Superintendent Doctor Rickley said, and he urged eligible families to complete the free and reduced-price meal application because it affects both waiver eligibility and federal reimbursements to the district.
The presentation by district staff noted that waivers provided have generally increased year to year, rising from 1,680 in 2024 to 1,911 in 2025. The student-fee account was shown as a flow-through fund that collected about $887,000 in current revenue for K–12 fees, with a cash reserve reported near $161,000. Administrators said revenue and expenses were close, with a small gap under $2,000 for the most recent fiscal year.
On specific recommended changes, curriculum/operations staff member Shereen Siri told the board: "Families paid $50 to use [school-owned instruments]. We're gonna charge 75." Other changes presented included: - ROTC uniforms: a maximum not to exceed $300. - Club shirts and other activity items: individual items will not exceed $30. - Graduation cap and gown: $65 for both high schools. - Advanced Placement testing: "it will match with the College Board," Siri said, noting the district does not control AP test pricing. - Health and career academy costs: some programs (HSA and Zoo Academy) require medical testing (TB or drug testing) the district said will be charged to students who do not have waivers. - Online payment processing: families choosing to pay fees online will incur a third-party processing fee; that fee would apply unless families pay by check.
Administrators said breakfast and lunch prices were increased by five cents, and that the district has increased meal prices twice in the last three years. "We don't love ever making an adjustment upward on our breakfast and lunch prices, but we feel like that nickel price is pretty modest," Rickley said, adding that commodity costs drive many menu price changes and that the district aims to keep prices near the metro median.
Officials also noted that the driver education program referenced in the packet is run through ESU 3 and is not a district-operated program; the ESU 3 fee shown increased from roughly $4.50 to $4.75, the presentation said.
The hearing concluded with no public comments. Board members did not take a recorded vote on the fee schedule at the hearing; administrators presented the recommendations for the board's review and for inclusion in the board packet and subsequent budget and handbook materials.
