School fees could rise
JANESVILLE — Costs are going up all over, but the Janesville School Board has a chance to just say no.
The district’s administration is recommending an increase in the cost of a ticket to see high school sporting events, and it’s recommending higher prices for hot lunch.
And some school board members are interested in raising the athletics fee. The fee hike would pay for a new sport—girls hockey.
School board member Tim Cullen wants to dump all those ideas. He proposed Tuesday night that the district keep fees right where they are.
Speaking at Tuesday’s school board meeting, Cullen asked Superintendent Tom Evert to come up with a list of budget cuts or other savings that would do away with the need for the fee hikes.
The school board discussed the proposals Tuesday. It is scheduled to vote at its next meeting April 22.
Here’s an overview of the proposed fee increases for Janesville public school families:
Lunch
The cost of fuel has affected the cost of food. Costs to provide hot lunch were 6 percent higher this year than expected, said Deb Goad, manager of food services.
“It’s hitting us hard,” Goad said.
The highest cost increases are in fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy, the very things the lunch program tries to emphasize, Goad said.
The federal lunch subsidies have not kept up with costs, Goad said.
Officials said they need the increase to stave off budget problems in the years ahead.
The last time lunch prices increased was fall 2005.
Tickets
The administration proposed raising the price of sports tickets from $3 to $5 for adults and $2 to $3 for students. The cost of a high school athletics pass would not change.
The added revenue—about $40,000—would pay to replace uniforms next school year, officials said.
The alternative to finding more money would be to cut a sport, something the administration doesn’t want to do, said Steve Johnson, director of human and administrative resources.
The school board has cut $80,000 from the athletics budget in the past two years. To balance the athletics budget, no teams got new uniforms this year.
Uniforms are replaced on a rotating schedule, with different sports’ uniforms being replaced on different years to spread out the costs, officials explained.
The $40,000 would restore annual funding for uniforms in the budget, officials said.
The increases would mean all Big Eight Conference schools would be charging the same ticket prices, something endorsed by Big Eight officials.
Board member Todd Bailey said he’d like to see students allowed in for free. He’d also like to let parents of the athletes see their children’s games for free.
Athletics fees
The athletics fee would have to be raised from the current $50 to $62 to pay the estimated cost of the girls hockey program that the board approved March 24.
A memo from Johnson and athletics director Kevin Porter notes that the current athletics fee generates $93,000 a year—well above the original estimate of $50,000 a year—but none of that money is returned directly to high school athletics.
“Although it is clearly understood the money raised from the fee goes into the general fund, which in turn supports athletics, it is sometimes difficult to explain to interested citizens why revenue raised by the fee does not go directly to support the athletic program,” the memo states.
Board members Bill Sodemann and Lori Stottler said they were interested in setting athletics fees based on the cost of each sport. Stottler said she is interested in adding surcharges to sports that cost more than average. To that end, Stottler asked the administration to prepare a report on the costs of the various sports.
What to cut?
No one at the meeting suggested what the district could cut from its budget in order to stave off the increases. Cullen asked Evert to come up with a plan that did not affect direct services to students, with no cuts of teachers or aides.
Evert decided, by the way, not to increase the registration fees that every family pays. He had proposed raising those fees, too.
“We’re trying to be extremely sensitive to the economic conditions our families are facing,” Evert said.
Jun 11, 2008 at 1:56 a.m.
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Oh! yes. Raise the price for sporting games for two sports ( I'm not sure if Mens Basket Ball is a sport that needs a ticket)
That way, at Parker, the football and girls basket ball team can get a new suit of uniforms when the mens tennis team hasn't had a matching uniform for everyone since atleast 1992.
Schroder says that we don't get a new uniform because we can wear our tennis t-shirts. Well, I bet if you try hard enough, and get extra big shirts, the football team could too!
Oh, I think that Schroder would have a feild day with the $20,000 he would get (seeing $20,000) goes to Craig.
But wait, I thought that the $50 parking pass and the $50 athletic fee covered most of that. But how come when I go to Walmart, I see the $1,000 grant that Coach Dye got.
Oh, and why was it that the Poms team couldn't have black sweats? Because the football team had them?!
isn't there a school rule saying that BLACK mesh back packs were allowed in the class room?! But again the football players can have their little back sacks because it's issued as part of their uniform. Well lets have a baseball player wear his helmet or one of the girls on the volleyball team wear their short SHORT shorts. Lets see how that flies.
Wow. I should write a book!
Apr 10, 2008 at 11:21 p.m.
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Did we forget about the $70 million that the taxpayers voted in favor of that is coming out of their pockets???
Apr 10, 2008 at 10:42 p.m.
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Isn't it funny how the district played a political game by appeasing the tax payers and making teachers pay for insurance, now they are asking for the public to pay more money. Lets see how the tables turn when it's the public's money and not just the teacher's money that they are asking for to increase their slush fund. I can smell it growing to $30 million. Wow, how much do you need? I remember reading an article that states the recommendation of money for emergency funds should be 2 months of expenditures which is $16-$20 million. What do they need the other $10 million for? A fence, or maybe to cushion some admin's wallets?
Apr 10, 2008 at 8:40 p.m.
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It could be "free and public" education if those who taught and administered did so for free, if those who build would donate the land and the buildings, if those who produced the teaching materials did so for free, if those who governed did so for free,if those who supplied the utilities did so for free, etc.
Apr 10, 2008 at 10:36 a.m.
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We can't keep expecting our government, whether locally or nationally, to keep costs down at our schools. We all want low taxes, low fees, and better everything. The money has to come from somewhere, and right now the only option is raising fees because nobody will vote to raise taxes. Everything has a price.
Apr 10, 2008 at 10:34 a.m.
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This is the one part that actually makes some sense."Board member Todd Bailey said he’d like to see students allowed in for free. He’d also like to let parents of the athletes see their children’s games for free." Parents are already getting hit with the participation fee; so don't hit them again. Thanks for your service on the board Todd Bailey.
Apr 10, 2008 at 10:17 a.m.
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I do; however, agree to increasing the fees to increase the school lunch program. With the obesity rates, children NEED more fruits and vegetables and healthier diets. It's sad that it's cheaper to eat at McDonald's than to make a healthy meal.
Apr 10, 2008 at 9:48 a.m.
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I don't see the value new uniforms will provide if it means that students will graduate (or actually get pushed through with the "miraculous" No Child Left Behind Act) without being able to read, write, proofread, speak in common language (not slang) or get college or employment skill development. In my previous post I kind of slammed Athletics. Not my point. I understand the value of arts, stressing teamwork with sports, etc. Are we (as a society) just trying to cover up our under-educated selves with new paint? As with all other things, the heart of the problem shows up eventually.
Apr 10, 2008 at 9:41 a.m.
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I believe the students need to work to “earn the privilege” and learn that nothing in life is free. If I want something new, I have to save, work harder, take on another job, etc. These are life skills that the teens of today are not learning (being taught?). There is too much of an “entitlement” attitude. Just because a kid is good at a sport does not give them a license to “get something for nothing”. Perhaps what we are teaching them is how to run faster down the street with someone else’s TV.
Apr 10, 2008 at 8:35 a.m.
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well here we go again raise fee s why not try mr cullens why and try more money managment.we pay people to do just that and we need to hold these people to there jobs less waste more managment , if any teacher cuts come down i will be appaulled because i know for a fact its not nessesary lets not forget our extra money called fund10 ,opps did i say that.. or is it alredy gone.come on now.lets also not forget our economy is getting poorer and can not aford more raises or taxes.that will drive people out of the city and then we get less tax dollars from state so we will have to cut more ........... we are a healthy comunity now lets stay that way.
Apr 9, 2008 at 11:20 p.m.
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The low income kids will be able to participate in a sport,for free, every season. The middle class family will be pushed out, by high fees, and have to pick and choose what sports if any they are able to afford to participate in.
Apr 9, 2008 at 10:55 p.m.
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why_teach...they will probably spend all the excess on a consulting firm to give them a political correct SUGGESTION and not a solution to public school problems. public education was NEVER meant to be FREE. it was always, and will continue to be, supported by our tax dollars. the problems occur when we waste many dollars chasing foolish dreams.
Apr 9, 2008 at 8:33 p.m.
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"free and public education" is what it should be. NOT free and public athletics or any other extra curricular activities.
Apr 9, 2008 at 8:22 p.m.
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“Although it is clearly understood the money raised from the fee goes into the general fund, which in turn supports athletics, it is sometimes difficult to explain to interested citizens why revenue raised by the fee does not go directly to support the athletic program,” the memo states
Another prime example of how the district says they need more money for something yet they are not held accountable for the excess fund they already have accrued. Same as the teachers insurance fund.
Apr 9, 2008 at 5:25 p.m.
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I thought "free and public education" was part of the deal in America.
Apr 9, 2008 at 4:32 p.m.
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what about the sports teams, bands etc. have car washes, bake sells, candy sells and so on? how about getting parents envolved in these. the uaw is seeking ways to improve it's image in the community. how about it's members donating $25 a month every 3 months to help these programs. put out donation cans also. i don't make much money but i would give $5. if everyone in town did that we could round up 2/300,000 in no time. we must become more creative as we try to offer more opportunities to our students. but do not lose focus on studies and grades. nothing lower than a C to play a sport. also, let's visit school uniforms. many schools have seen a much appreciated improvement in both grades and behavoir after uniform introduction.
Apr 9, 2008 at 4:20 p.m.
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I think raising fees for each student is needed! Look at what people pay to send their kids every year to parochial schools - even doubling our public school fees is still an incredible value for what our students are getting, and would add much needed money to help repair our deteriorating buildings. I have two kids in public school, and I would rather pay higher fees to keep class sizes low/retain a quality education, than have the fees low, and lose staff/making the classes too big. Take a poll at each school, and see what you get! I think you will be surprised at how many people would gladly pay.
Apr 9, 2008 at 3:12 p.m.
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My gosh just charge a school fee of 100.00 per student and end all other fees.
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