Board approves Community Education fee changes and Explorers registration updates after safety review
Loading...
Summary
The board approved a 0% change to ECFE sliding fees, a 5% increase to Minnetonka Preschool tuition, and fee increases for Explorers (5% for K–5, 10% for juniors), while staff described safety audits, pilot building supervisors and measures to reduce waitlists and boost staffing.
The Minnetonka School Board on Dec. 11 approved several Community Education fee and program changes and heard staff proposals to improve after‑school safety and registration.
Executive Director of Community Education Kim Carlson described ECFE program adjustments and recommended a 0% change to the ECFE sliding fee scale for 2026; the board approved that motion. Carlson noted new programming (Parent Education Plus, Better Together, Dad Lab) and said program participation and sliding‑fee usage are stable.
On preschool tuition, staff recommended a 5% increase to Minnetonka Preschool rates for the 2026–27 school year to accommodate staffing and contract costs; the board approved the increase.
Explorers (the district's before/after‑school program) presenters outlined a safety audit prompted by a community incident, described a plan to pilot building supervisors and locked doors at Minnewashta and Scenic Heights, and summarized registration reforms. Staff reported the Explorers waitlist fell from 289 to 85 this year and that they have moved 319 students off the wait list; they also said the program has hired more than 50 new staff since the start of the school year.
On fees, staff recommended differentiating rates by program: a 5% increase for K–5 Explorers and a 10% increase for the juniors program. "So we're recommending 10% for juniors and 5% for K through 5," a program presenter said. The board approved the proposed fee changes by voice vote.
Board members asked how registration and registration fees are applied; staff explained that K–5 registration fees go toward enrollment processing, while junior program registration fees are split (one portion as a registration fee and $100 applied to the first month's invoice). Staff also noted county child‑care assistance is available for qualifying families.
Next steps: staff will implement the pilot safety measures, finalize registration timing, post job opportunities for building supervisors, and apply the approved fee schedule for 2026–27 registration.
