Board discusses proposed 3% increase to most student fees for 2026-27; fee waiver unchanged

District administrators recommended that most student and building-use fees increase by 3% for the 2026-27 school year, with two specified fees remaining unchanged. The board discussed the recommendation during the discussion section and will consider formal approval at the next meeting.

Administrators said the fee adjustments follow recommendations from the Citizens Finance Advisory Committee (CFAC) and help avoid larger, infrequent increases by incrementally adjusting fees. Staff pointed to two new district-wide changes this year: a blanket field-trip fee (two trips per student) and a standardized supply kit for K'5 students intended to improve equity and logistics.

Board members asked how the fee changes interact with free- and reduced-price meal reimbursements; staff said the fee schedule is designed so that reimbursement funds do not subsidize fee-based programs and reiterated that a fee-waiver process is available for eligible families. One board member requested additional detail on the reimbursement interaction and building-level fee impacts; staff said they will return with more information at the approval meeting next month.

Additionally, the board received an update on CFAC timing: administrators said the CFAC work will be delayed until more data and preparatory information are ready (transition to a new auditor and other financial-system changes), with committee activity resuming in the coming months.

Why it matters: Student-fee policy affects family costs and district budgeting; the fee-waiver mechanism and CFAC input are mechanisms for balancing equity and fiscal needs.

Next steps: The fee proposal will return to the board for formal action at the December meeting with supplemental detail about building-level impacts and fee-waiver implementation.