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Collingswood staff recommends middle‑school activity fee; board presses for waivers and stronger collection
Summary
District staff proposed maintaining a $100 base participation fee and adding a $125 per‑activity middle‑school charge to help close a $150,000 athletics shortfall; the board pressed for clearer waiver processes, stronger collection systems and better family outreach.
Collingswood Public School District — District staff on July 13 recommended tightening and amplifying existing extracurricular participation fees and collection procedures to help cover an estimated $150,000 shortfall for middle‑school athletics and co‑curriculars.
"We're recommending middle school students who participate in athletics or performing arts be charged an additional $125 for each individual activity," Staff member (S2) told the board, noting the board’s existing participation policy (Policy 2436) includes a base participation fee. Staff said the district will continue to collect the longstanding $100 participation fee and would add an individual activity fee to better match program costs.
Staff acknowledged post‑COVID implementation issues and said current collection rates have been weak. "The collection rate... is abysmal," S2 said, and described new standard operating procedures, better visibility on the district website and the use of the Genesis student information system to ensure families receive clear notices and that unpaid flags are followed up.
The board pressed for equity protections: members asked whether students who do not qualify for free and reduced-price lunch but nonetheless face hardship would have an appeal or partial‑waiver process. Staff said the district will use the free/reduced eligibility as an automatic waiver and will develop a process for families in the "middle" who do not qualify but have demonstrated need. Board members also discussed donation options and community willingness to support scholarships for participation.
Why it matters: board discussion framed activity fees as part of a larger budgeting strategy that includes the referendum discussion and one‑time revenues. Several members noted that charging fees could risk lower participation if too high, so staff modeled the fees to avoid pricing out typical middle‑school participants.
Next steps: staff will publish proposed fee language and operational procedures for public feedback, add clearer fee portals and payment links on school and district websites, and circulate outreach materials to families ahead of the school year. The board asked for follow‑up reports on collection rates and the equity/waiver process.
