The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Instructional fees in U-46 likely waived once more

By Seth Hancock
  School District U-46 is proposing to waive instructional fees for the 2023-2024 school year, the third straight year it would be done if approved by the board of education.
  The fees were presented at the Feb. 13 meeting with a vote planned for the Monday, Feb. 27.
  The fee schedule states: “Registration fees waived for one year only due to the impact of COVID.”
  This is expected to be the final year of the fee waiver, according to Dale Burnidge, director of financial operations.
  “We are recommending that we waive these fees, for just this year,” Burnidge said. “This will probably be the last year we will be able to do that because we have the ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds to help cover those fees.”
  Optional fees will remain the same including $80 per sport for the middle school athletic participation fee as well as several at the high school level: Driver’s education behind the wheel ($250), driver’s education textbook ($13), lifeguard course fee ($45.75), parking permit ($100), athletic participation fee per sport ($150), athletic fee for football/lacrosse ($200) and basic yearbook ($45). A customized high school yearbook is available, with price determined at each site.
  High school athletic fees are capped at two per student athlete, four per family.
  The board will also vote on an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Hanover Township. The IGA allows the township “use of or to continue to use certain schools during certain hours when the School District-facilities are not being used for School District purposes, but are available for community recreation services sponsored by the Township.”
  There are five elementary schools listed which the township can use: Bartlett, Hanover Countryside, Ontarioville, Sunnydale and Timbertrail.
  The township would use the facilities for an open gym program “that consists of recreational, educational, and social activities for the purpose of promoting youth development including, but not limited to, physical fitness classes, homework assistance, leadership training, sports programs, dance, arts, and crafts,” the IGA states.