Grafton committee debates athletic, preschool and facilities fees; superintendent to model athletic‑fee scenarios for reduction budget

The Grafton School Committee spent much of its meeting debating a package of possible fees and other revenue options as the district develops a FY27 level‑service and possible reduction budget.

Superintendent Dr. Cummings opened with an overview of current revenue sources — existing $200 bus/parking fees, roughly $8 million in school‑choice tuition, booster and PTG fundraising — and proposed areas for revenue growth, including athletic fees, activity fees, facility rental rate increases and preschool tuition adjustments. He cautioned that some early‑college partners are reducing offerings, pushing the district to diversify local programming and revenue sources.

Committee members pressed the superintendent on concrete modeling and equity impacts. "When schools charge athletic fees, especially in the $100 range, student participation drops," one committee member said, citing district and academic studies and arguing that fees create a two‑tier system that harms access for students who cannot afford to pay. The superintendent presented scenarios: a $100 per‑sport fee (no family cap) could generate roughly $70,000 (assuming no participation drop and excluding the district’s 17% free/reduced share), while a $200 fee could add about $140,000. He emphasized those figures do not account for probable declines in participation or added costs (for example, suggested stipend increases for coaches if fees raised expectations). Dr. Cummings also noted athletic transportation cost was about $151,000 in FY25.

On preschool tuition, staff reported current enrollment of 42 half‑day and 14 full‑day students and clarified the program is charged on a 10‑month basis; several members proposed modest increases (for example a $50/month bump) and asked staff to prepare more detailed enrollment, month‑by‑month billing and sensitivity analyses. For facility rentals, members identified anomalies in the rate sheet (auditorium listed at a lower hourly rate than classrooms for some approved groups), recommended raising rates and suggested a simple discount policy (an even‑number percentage) for Grafton‑approved groups.

While several members voiced strong objections to activity fees on equity grounds, the committee directed the superintendent to model athletic‑fee scenarios and an athletic/transportation fee as part of the district’s reduction‑budget materials. The superintendent also agreed to provide a clearer breakdown of rental revenue from town groups versus outside renters and to return with preschool enrollment and month‑by‑month revenue projections.

Next steps: staff will return with modeled athletic‑fee revenue and participation sensitivity, a facility rental revenue breakdown and detailed preschool tuition numbers for committee review ahead of the Feb. 24 public hearing and Feb. 24/Mar. 3 budget schedule.