For Immediate Release:
April 5, 2010
Contact:
Lisa McVey, Communications & Community Relations Liaison, 610-869-2441, ext. 1019
Avon Grove School Board to Consider Implementing High School Student Activity Fee
Avon Grove School District’s Student Activities Fee Committee has recommended that the Board of School Directors consider implementing a pilot student activities fee program that would require high school students to pay a $25 annual fee if they participate in one or more interscholastic sports and/or nonacademic competitive activities during the school year. If approved by the School Board, the pilot program would begin in the 2010-2011 school year.
The Avon Grove Board of School Directors is scheduled to consider adoption of the student activities fee program at the April 22, 2010, School Board Meeting, scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Avon Grove Intermediate School Audion.
The $25 proposed fee would be a onetime annual charge that would apply to each high school student participating on one or more interscholastic teams and/or in other activities that involve nonacademic interscholastic competition, including cheerleading, the marching band, indoor color guard, and indoor percussion. The fee would be nonrefundable.
Exempt activities include student leadership, service, and/or academic clubs and organizations participating in academic-related competitions.
The activities fee committee also recommended that measures be put in place to address cases where a financial hardship may exist. Such circumstances would be addressed by the high school administration on a case-by-case basis based on criteria and a process to be established prior to implementing the program. Hardships could include financial inability to pay, having multiple children from one household participating in activities that fall under the program, or other circumstances.
School and district officials estimate that approximately 900 to 1,000 of the high school’s 1,800-plus students participate in one or more of the activities included under the proposed program. Based on those numbers, district officials estimate the fee would generate about $25,000 in revenue that would go into the school district’s general fund to help offset program costs and other expenses.
The Avon Grove School District Board of School Directors and Administration are working to balance the 2010-2011 general fund budget and close a projected budget gap for next year. Efforts include identifying expenditure reductions and evaluating potential sources of new revenue for the next fiscal year, including the proposed student activities fee, increased student parking fees, and a separate committee is evaluating the possibility of charging increased fees to outside organizations that use district facilities.
District expenditures will increase next year due primarily to increases in salary and benefits obligations, as well as increased costs for transportation, energy, and other operating costs. In addition, unless the General Assembly takes legislative action, the Avon Grove School District and other public school districts throughout the Commonwealth will face significant increases over the next several years in employer paid contributions to the state's public school employees’ retirement system.
Real estate tax revenues have not increased over the past two years due to the depressed housing market. Interest earnings are down and revenues from real estate taxes have declined by $1.2 million in the past two years due to property reassessments and associated reductions in property tax bills. There has also been a decrease in transfer taxes from home sales and interim taxes.
On March 25, as part of the District's efforts to reduce expenditures, the Avon Grove Board of School Directors approved two separate voluntary retirement incentive programs for eligible teachers and support staff, as well as a four-day summer work week for 2010. Based on letters of interest and initial projections, the three initiatives could save a total of $160,000.
Additional work will be necessary in order to close the budget gap and balance the 2010-2011 proposed budget. District officials will continue to evaluate potential options over the next several months.
The Student Activities Fee Committee was comprised of PTA/PTO representatives from the intermediate, middle and high school; high school Music Boosters and Sports Boosters representatives; the high school athletic and activities directors; superintendent; intermediate school lead principal; two school board members; and a community member with no children in district schools. The committee researched similar programs and policies in other school districts, evaluated and discussed options, and presented its recommendation to the School Board on March 25.
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Nondiscrimination Policy: The Avon Grove School District is an equal opportunity education institution and will not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, religion, ancestry, sexual orientation, handicap/disability, union membership, or other legally protected classification. Announcement of this policy is in accordance with state and federal laws, including Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504. All inquiries should be made to Dr. Wendi Lee Foltz, Director of Personnel, Avon Grove School District, 375 S. Jennersville Road, West Grove, PA 19390, 610-869-2441.
Posted:
April 5, 2010 1:38 PM
