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Board tables proposal to raise preschool tuition after directors request subsidy and enrollment data
Summary
District staff proposed a 3.4% tuition increase for the 2026–27 preschool program (about $100 for 3‑year‑olds, $150 for 4‑year‑olds) and a Jan. 20 registration timeline; directors asked for detailed subsidy, enrollment and market-rate data and voted to table the fee decision for further review.
Dieringer School District staff proposed a 3.4% increase to preschool tuition for the 2026–27 year and an enrollment timeline that would open registration Jan. 20 and close Feb. 18 with a virtual lottery if demand exceeds available slots. Laura Marco, the district’s executive director of business services, said the 3.4% figure reflects staff-cost increases and that the amounts were rounded to the nearest $5: “that means it's a $100 increase annually for students in the 3‑year‑old classroom and a $150 tuition increase for the 4‑year‑olds,” Marco said.
Marco told the board the program has historically been subsidized from levy funds to keep tuition lower than private options and that the district will provide a more detailed subsidy figure on request. She also described the registration steps: lottery notification the day after the virtual drawing, deposits and contracts due March 20, and a waitlist procedure for any remaining openings.
Several directors urged more data before approving the change. Director Scott Reisenhower said he had “some concerns” about the percentage and asked how much the district currently subsidizes the program; he moved to table the fee decision pending additional analysis. Other directors asked for enrollment counts, the number of peer-model and special-education slots, unmet demand estimates, and a rate comparison with nearby private preschools. One director estimated, based on preliminary figures, that the district is subsidizing roughly half of the per‑student cost and asked staff to provide the exact subsidy amount.
Staff acknowledged some numbers were not on hand at the meeting and offered to return with a full cost and subsidy breakdown, competitive rate survey and the program’s capacity constraints. Marco also said expanding preschool depends on classroom space and alignment with the district’s long‑range strategic plan.
After discussion, the board voted to table the fee decision and consider the matter at a future special meeting or study session once staff provided the requested financial and enrollment details. The board did not adopt any tuition changes at the meeting.
