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Board weighs fee schedule, Chromebook funding and meal eligibility as year begins
Summary
The Southeast Board of Education debated changes to the district fee schedule and technology funding after staff warned a $15 Chromebook fee won’t cover repairs or replacements; officials said the district still does not meet state thresholds for free meals but will recheck as enrollment changes.
The Southeast Board of Education debated its district fee schedule and technology funding Wednesday, with staff warning that the current $15 technology fee falls short of repair and replacement costs for district Chromebooks and urging the board to consider longer-term budgeting and grant opportunities.
A staff member told the board the $15 Chromebook fee is difficult to sustain because repairs often exceed that amount and replacements now run about $300. “Any repair we do on a Chromebook is gonna be more than $15,” the staff member said, adding that the district owns about 1,200 Chromebooks and has found multiple devices with swollen batteries that must be removed from service.
The director responsible for technology and facilities said the district has drafted a budget plan and is pursuing outside funding. The district wrote a grant with support from the South Range Foundation and hosted a site visit from the Youngstown Foundation to seek a possible matching gift, the director said. Staff said additional donations or grant awards would enable the district to replace more devices rather than patching machines as problems arise.
Board members also discussed the broader fee schedule, including a $40 transportation/activity fee that the board said is set in policy and would require the standard first- and second-read process to change. A committee member raised concerns about penalties for students whose families cannot pay and described instances when students were pulled from activities because of unpaid fees: “It’s embarrassing to the students just because their parents won’t pay or can’t pay,” the committee member said.
On meal programs, staff explained why the district does not qualify for the federal community eligibility provision that would provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. The staff member said the district is below the monthly threshold in the program’s algorithm but noted individual students remain eligible for free or reduced-price meals. “We just don’t qualify with the amount of students who who could receive for your next lunch,” the staff member said, and pledged to recheck eligibility as enrollment numbers change.
The board approved the presented fee schedule on a voice vote and directed staff to continue exploring grants, donations and improved communication to families about supports. Officials said any policy change to fees would move through the board’s formal policy process before taking effect.
