Box Elder officials outline new school‑fee rules after state’s HB344; parents urge options for low‑income students

Assistant Superintendent Keith Meekum told the Box Elder School District Board of Education on Tuesday that changes enacted by the Utah Legislature this year will end the district's long‑standing general class fee and require itemized course fees by class.

Meekum said the district previously charged a single general class fee by grade (for example: $25 for sixth grade, $54 for seventh grade, $65 for middle‑school grades and $91 for high school) that allowed students to take any classes for that single price. "Per House Bill 344, we're no longer able to do a general class fee," Meekum said, adding that the district must now list and charge fees by specific course. He warned that the change will make some students pay more depending on the classes they choose, particularly in CTE and fine arts courses that require materials.

The change, Meekum said, means itemized middle‑school course fees will range from roughly $0.01 to $20 and high‑school course fees from about $1 to $38 for routine items; construction, advanced CTE and some fine arts courses remain among the highest cost categories. Meekum also said the district can no longer collect a schoolwide student‑body fee and plans to offer an optional high‑school athletic game pass (estimated at $30) as a substitute revenue source for extracurricular activities.

Why it matters: Families and school leaders said the new requirement could limit students' access to hands‑on learning and career pathways by raising out‑of‑pocket costs for some classes. The board and district staff described steps they are studying to limit fees, including using Teacher and Student Success Act (TSSA) allocations and other district funds to offset costs.

Meekum told the board that state law also prohibits fees for core classes in English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and health, so supplies for hands‑on learning in those subjects will need alternate funding. "So there's only a handful of classes" subject to fees, Meekum said, "but depending on what that is, you may get over the $25 that it cost last year because we have to itemize." He said the district's column D total for listed fees in its draft schedule was about $628,000.

Public comment and district response: Laura Wheatley, representing Utah PTA activities and parent groups, described statewide concerns about online safety and noted the ongoing conversation about student supports; she also said PTA leaders will follow up. A separate public commenter, whose prepared remarks called for free public education, submitted a written comment asking that fees not increase.

Parents and residents urged the board to find alternatives for students who do not qualify for fee waivers but still face financial barriers. "I worry that we're going to be limiting opportunities," Cassandra Merrell said during public comment. "If there's anything that we as constituents can do to help, I would be open to brainstorming." The board said it will hold another public comment session on the draft fee schedule next month and said staff would continue work on offsets and a free option for graduation requirements as required by statute.

District next steps: Meekum said most fees will be waivable under the district's waiver policy but noted there are exceptions (for example, some AP and college credit fees). He also explained operational details: fees will be charged and prorated by trimester, and transfers in or out during the year will be prorated and refunded where appropriate. The board discussed logistics for the proposed student athletic pass (picture ID verification at events) and asked staff to refine implementation details.

Board reaction: Trustees voiced concern about equity and workload for school secretaries who will manage itemized billing. Members thanked CTE teachers and district staff for work preparing the schedule and said the board will explore using TSSA allocations and other funding sources to reduce fees. Meekum said the district will publish the detailed schedule on school and district websites and hold another public comment session in June.

Immediate items highlighted from Meekum's presentation: the district will (1) itemize course fees in compliance with HB344; (2) offer an optional athletic student game pass at an estimated $30; (3) increase the athletic participation fee by $10 to cover transportation/fuel; and (4) pursue TSSA and district funding options to reduce out‑of‑pocket costs for students.

A final fee schedule and a second public hearing are planned before the board takes a final vote later this summer.