Isaacs — 630-780-7352 Editor: Richard Ray 312-478-8940
Most student fees at Skokie School District 68 are scheduled to remain the same in 2016-17, under a fee plan approved last month by the Skokie School District 68 Board.
According to Chief Financial Business Official Ryan Berry, 2016-17 fees for books and materials, $120, technology, $30, and optional bus service $240, stay the same as this year.
Some of the costs, however, can be reduced based on when they are paid or whether families meet low income thresholds, he said.
“The district currently uses a tiered fee structure based on when payments are received,” Berry said in his report to the board.
The fee for books and materials gets reduced to $100 if paid immediately and $110 if paid early, under the plan.
And those who qualify for reduced lunches are on a different payment plan. They pay $50 for immediate payment, $55 for early payment and $60 for regular-time payment, under the plan.
Those who qualify for free lunches do not pay any fee for books and materials.
The district’s $30 technology fee is mandated for everyone, according to officials. The $17 cost for the junior high yearbook is the same for everyone as well, but it’s optional, they said.
Bus service at District 68 is free for students who live more than 1.5 miles from school or in a designated hazard zone, under state law.
But optional bus fees are reduced for students who qualify for free or reduced lunches and for those who pay early, under the plan.
The $240 annual bus cost is reduced to $220 for immediate payment and $230 for early payment, under the plan. For those qualifying for reduced lunches, immediate payment would cost $110, early payment $115 and regular payment $120.
Those qualifying for free lunches would pay $20 for immediate and early payment and $25 for regular payment for optional bus service, under the fee plan.
The student fee plan also includes a slight reduction in cost for the district’s early childhood program. The total annual cost for a five day-a-week half day program will be $2,975, under the plan.
Earlier this year, district officials said they were looking at trying to boost enrollment in the district’s Early Childhood Center by considering open enrollment with a sliding tuition scale.
District 68 Director of Special Services Peg Lasiewicki said the programming at the center is only 75 percent filled and some children who would benefit are not able to afford it.
Twitter: @SKReview_Mike
