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Board tables revised student fee schedule amid revenue and equity questions
Summary
Administrators proposed a rewritten 2026–27 student fee schedule that narrows charges to consumable and attributable costs and expands the co‑curricular participation fee; trustees asked for a statutory citation and a line‑by‑line projection of fiscal impact and voted to table the schedule until the June meeting.
The board considered a rewritten student fee schedule for 2026–27 that shifts from broad flat registration fees to itemized, consumable and activity‑specific charges intended to align district practice with Wisconsin statute and DPI guidance.
Administration said the rewrite was designed to ensure ‘‘no user fees will exceed the actual expenses incurred’’ and to bring the district into compliance with state rules about what schools may charge families. The proposal lowers some legacy flat fees (for example, a previously charged high‑school registration fee was shown as reduced in the draft), adds itemized material fees for courses such as art or technology, and expands the athletic participation fee to a capped co‑curricular participation fee intended to recoup attributable costs across athletics and other extracurriculars.
Board members expressed concern about the timing of the change given current budget pressures. Several trustees requested a statutory citation for the district’s fee authority and asked administration to produce a line‑item revenue projection showing the current fee schedule versus the proposed schedule using present‑year participation and enrollment numbers. Trustees also asked that the administration identify how waivers for free and reduced students will be handled (administration stated waivers will continue with signed agreements on file).
After discussion the board voted to lay the fee schedule over until the June meeting and directed administration to supply the requested statutory citation and a line‑item fiscal comparison showing the net revenue impact assuming current participation and enrollment.
The motion to table passed by roll call; administration said it would work with advisors and the student activity roster data to prepare the requested projections.
