Olentangy district proposes modest student fee changes for 2026–27, adds $20 max parking‑violation fee

Dr. Blackley presented the Olentangy Local Schools administration’s proposed student fee schedule for the 2026–27 school year at the Feb. 26 board meeting.

He reported that the district assesses curricular or co‑curricular fees for 165 high‑school courses; proposed changes would raise 32 of those fees and lower 10. District leaders also proposed a new maximum $20 fee for parking violations to enforce registration and permit rules; middle‑school consumable language‑arts materials would be set at a $20 maximum for annotatable paperback novels. Elementary fees would remain at zero.

Dr. Blackley said many adjustments reflect higher vendor and supply costs (for example, consumables and workbooks) and that the listed fees are maximums: fee secretaries will determine actual charges in August based on what was ordered, so families may pay less than the maximum. He pointed to program needs such as CTE pathway supplies and membership fees (SkillsUSA) as reasons for some increases, and said AP testing fees are being held steady this year.

Board members asked whether the changes represented a profit motive; administrators responded that fees are meant to recover direct costs and are not set to generate margin. Dr. Blackley described a recent process change: fee review began earlier this year with the course guide committee and the teaching and learning team conducting a line‑by‑line assessment of resources and vendor pricing.

Board members did not amend the proposed schedule at the meeting; the administration asked for board approval of the fee schedule as part of the superintendent consent items, with final implementation details set when orders are placed and costs are calculated in August.