Board approves EFA fee schedule and co-curricular pricing to allow participation by voucher students

The Merrimack Valley School District approved a fee schedule and process to allow Education Freedom Account (EFA) students to participate in classes, clubs and athletics after state rules changed to require districts to accept EFA students.

District staff explained the fees are intended to offset lost adequacy revenue and to cover program costs. The proposed structure divides a per-student cost by the district’s seven-class day to generate a per-class fee for middle- and high-school courses; elementary fees were computed using a comparable formula. Co-curricular activities were grouped into tiers ($50/$100/$150) based on meeting frequency and participation; athletics fees were calculated from coach salaries, transportation and officials divided by expected athlete counts.

Business staff said the district could have charged for EFA services immediately under the new law and that the board should approve a procedure now with final rates set in June for the coming school year. The board approved the pricing structure and the process to finalize rates in June. Under the approved plan, nonresident EFA students will be charged the district’s published fees to participate; staff said space and participation will be determined first-come, first-served when programs have capacity limits.

Board members asked whether district students would receive priority if slots are limited; staff confirmed enrollment will function on a space-available basis and that district students historically have had priority for in-school seats, but specifics will be handled in program registration procedures. The board also discussed how to identify EFA students in district reports so fees and enrollment can be tracked.

The board moved and approved the fee schedule for the current year and agreed to set official rates each June going forward.