By Jeff Vorva
Fees are going up in the three schools in the Beecher School District 200U for 2024-25.
The board voted on May 13 for a $20 fee per student added for technology. Also, sports fees will be capped at $600 per family for the school year. Prior, it was capped at $200 per season per family.
Last year, the board kicked around the idea of a $40 increase in fees but decided that doing a $20 increase in 2023-24 and another $20 increase would be better on families, some of whom were paying new fees for sports.
“We did need to raise it $40 to get us just kinda, sorta where we needed to be,” Board President Ashley Belt said. “We were so far behind because we hadn’t raised fees in so long and we didn’t want to do it all at once.”
Superintendent Jack Gaham said that prior to last year, the last increase in fees for the elementary school was in 2007, the junior high in 2008 and the high school in 2013.
He added that times have changed.
“The difference is that back in the day there were six textbooks for every kid covered in brown paper to take home,” he said.
“Now, it’s all technology based. The $50 technology fee basically covers the Chromebook. The additional $20 doesn’t cover all of the additional licenses we have and all of the extra things that we are currently using.”
He said the district is not trying to make a profit, but wants to avoid financial hardship.
He said that each $20 increase equates to roughly $20,000.
“In a $17 million budget, $20,000 may not seem like a lot, but it adds up,” he said.
Comings and goings
The board acknowledged the resignation of Danielle Ruff as the K-8 art teacher, Adam Keen as the junior high school baseball coach and Danielle Harrigan as the elementary school special education teacher.
It also approved the employment of Amanda Alderfer as the elementary school’s second grade teacher, Nathan Stanula as the maintenance director, Kristin Hodges as the K-8 art teacher, Brandon Stadt as the IT systems administrator and Daniel Palan as the high school assistant boys basketball coach.