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Kutztown school leaders push plan for $50–$100 student activity fee; board raises implementation questions
Summary
District staff proposed a one-time activity fee — $100 for high-school students and $50 for middle-school students, exempting students on free/reduced lunch (~33–35%) — to cover transportation and facility usage. Board members discussed tracking, exemptions, fundraising backstops and decided to include the fee proposal in the June 23 budget adoption process.
Kutztown Area School District administrators recommended adding a one-time activity fee to the coming budget to help cover costs tied to extracurriculars and athletics.
Superintendent Dr. Myers presented the proposal and said the recommendation is for a single per-student charge rather than per-activity amounts. “I would recommend that lower fee of the $50, you know, one time a year,” Dr. Myers said, adding that high-school athletics would be set at $100 because of higher transportation and facility demands. He told the board the district estimates roughly 33–35% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches and would be exempted from the fee.
Board members focused on the practicalities of implementing the charge, including how to measure transportation usage and facility costs. Dr. Myers said the district does not currently track van mileage in a way that permits a precise per-use calculation and suggested categories (low, medium, high use) as a pragmatic approach. He also said the district would aim to prevent the fee from blocking participation: “If that's going to prevent somebody from participating, then we can help them out in some way,” he said, citing possible donor funds, booster support or district assistance.
Several members said the fee should be simple and standardized so families pay a single amount regardless of the number of activities, and that the district should create an application or referral process for students in need. Members noted fundraising and booster balances could offset some costs; administrators said many clubs already fundraise and have modest balances.
No formal motion was taken on the floor; administrators said the fee structure will be incorporated into budget documents for the board’s June 23 vote on the budget.
The district plans to exempt students receiving free or reduced-price meals; further implementation details, including timing of collection, an assistance process and how to handle booster fundraising, will be developed before budget adoption.
