Book rental, activity ticket fees increasing

It will cost more for Fairfield students to go to school and more for families to enjoy sports, concerts and other school activities next year.

The Fairfield Community School District Board of Directors approved increases in book rental fees, high school parking fees and activity tickets during their monthly meeting Monday.

Book rental will be $40 at the high school; $35 at the middle school; and $30 at the elementary schools. The fee had been $30 for kindergartners through seniors for several years. District technology director Jason Kurth, who presented the fee schedule, said he presumed fifth-graders, who will be located at the middle school next year, will pay $35.

The Family All Season activity ticket price is going up from $110 to $120, and the Senior Golden Pass for those 63 years old or older is rising from $10 to $20. Prices for activity tickets are remaining the same for high school students, $30, middle school students, $20, and adults, $60.

A parking permit for Fairfield High School juniors and seniors, which allows them to park in the high school parking lot, are $20 for two years, and is nonrefundable. Previously, the students bought a permit for $10, which was refundable when they returned the permit to the office.

Instrumental music fee will remain at $10 for students in sixth through eighth grades and $15 for students in ninth through 12th grades. The maximum amount a family will pay is $25.

Business manager Kim Sheets compared surrounding districts? fees and found Fairfield?s were below average. For example, in Mount Pleasant, the book rental fees are $37 for high school, $32 for middle school and $30 for elementary. In Washington, book rental fees are $60 for high school and middle school and $50 for elementary. Instrumental fees are $80 in Mount Pleasant and $15 in Washington.

Board member Bob Waugh asked if Fairfield was raising its fees just because they were lower than other districts.

?We?re trying to raise revenue and contain expenditures,? said superintendent Don Achelpohl. ?This is a way to be proactive.?

For the complete article, see the Wednesday, May 12, 2010, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.