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School staff present proposed FY27 user-fee increases for athletics, buses, preschool and facility rentals
Summary
District staff proposed roughly 5% increases to bus and preschool fees, changes to athletic fees (raise second-sport charge, raise family cap), and updated facility rental rates to better cover custodial and maintenance costs; committee set questions and scheduled action for April 9.
District staff presented proposed updates to user-fees for fiscal year 2027 at the March 26 North Andover School Committee meeting, saying the changes are intended to keep pace with rising operational costs while preserving access for families in need.
Greg Landry, director of operations, said the review focused on athletics, bus transportation, facility rentals and preschool tuition. Athletic director Steve Nugent recommended keeping the first-sport fee at $400, increasing the second-sport fee to $400 (from a lower second-sport discount), making a third sport free, and raising the family cap from $1,000 to $1,200; staff estimated athletics fee changes would raise about $50,000 for the athletics budget if participation stays constant.
Staff proposed approximately 5% increases for bus transportation standard and early-bird rates and for preschool tuition (half-day and full-day). For facilities, the district proposed updated hourly rental rates and a clearer custodial overtime charge (the overtime custodial rate is currently $54.10/hr and projected to be $57.40/hr in FY27). Staff said rental revenue would be used to cover staffing, maintenance and wear-and-tear, not to generate general-fund revenue.
Committee members asked about equity and the distributional effects of the athletics proposal (two-sport vs. three-sport athletes), how comparable communities fund athletics, whether bus escalators protect the district from fuel-price volatility, and preschool capacity and wait lists. Staff said fee waivers and reduced rates would continue for families who qualify for free or reduced-price meals and that the increases are intended to recoup at least one year of rising costs without overburdening families.
No final votes were taken; the committee scheduled final action and any policy adjustments for its April 9 meeting to ensure families receive notice before April vacation.
