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Norfolk Public Schools approves 2026–27 student fee schedule and transfers activity fees to activities fund
Summary
The Norfolk Public Schools Board reaffirmed Policy 5416 and approved the 2026–27 student fee appendix, noting several line‑item increases and a board vote to transfer activity‑specific fees from the student fees fund to the activities fund at the auditor's and NDE's recommendation. Motions carried 5‑0.
The Norfolk Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to reaffirm board Policy 5416 and approve the district’s 2026–27 student fee schedule, including a set of line‑item increases and an administrative plan to move many activity‑related fee line items into the activities fund.
Superintendent Bill Mallister explained the fee policy and appendix and said the district will align fee accounting with guidance from the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and the district auditor. He described permissible fees (course materials, consumables, specialized attire, extracurricular participation fees, transportation, copies of student records, summer/night school and out‑of‑state trip costs) and gave multiple examples from the appendix: band instrument rental rising from $25 to $30, percussion fees adjusted by level, band shoes increasing from $45 to $60, choir robe cleaning ($20/year), and graduation cap and gown listed at $80.
Mallister said recent fee activity (as presented during the hearing) showed that the district collected on the order of tens of thousands of dollars and expended a smaller amount in the period reported; the transcript figures were numerically garbled, so the board characterized those totals only approximately and noted that many fees are collected in July and August and therefore are not fully reflected in the figures presented.
To comply with NDE and the auditor’s recommendation, the board approved a motion to transfer activity‑specific fee line items from the student fees fund into the activities fund while preserving each FO line‑item code so the dollars continue to be used for their original purpose. Mr. Wilson (finance) explained the transfer will be phased in before the start of the school year to ensure bookkeeping alignment. The motion to approve the transfer carried 5‑0.
Board members also reminded families that fee reductions or waivers remain available for students approved for free or reduced‑price meal benefits, and the district will publicize the finalized appendix and fee codes on the district website.
The board’s approval followed an official student‑fees hearing earlier in the meeting; no members of the public spoke at that hearing and the formal motion to adopt the appendix passed unanimously.
