No fees for BV students ... again
MANLIUS — Bureau Valley School District parents can once again look forward to registering their children for school and not worry about breaking the budget.
Last week, the Bureau Valley School Board once again decided to waive textbook fees and to leave district lab fees and lunch prices the same as last year.
Keith Bolin, head of the finance committee, said the consensus of the committee was to not change anything.
“In all the years I’ve been on the board, I’ve never had such positive feedback from the community,” he said.
Two years ago, the board voted unanimously to do away with textbook rental fees for the 2007-08 school year, following a discussion begun by board member Rick Cernovich.
“We’re challenged to provide a free education, financed by the local community and the state,” Cernovich said. “I don’t think it’s wise that individuals should have to pay textbook fees. I think it should be a part of the overhead of our providing a free public education.”
In 2008, the board voted unanimously to waive textbook fees and keep lunch, breakfast and milk fees the same, and the result was the same at last week’s meeting.
Bolin said families used to have to write a check for $200 to $300 to register each child, and now they have next to no check to write. While some people argue that paying fees creates a sense of ownership in the district, Bolin said that same sense of ownership can be created by volunteering for district activities and fundraisers. He also said it’s easier on the staff, as they don’t have to spend time trying to collect from parents who don’t pay.
Bolin said another factor is the district is in good financial shape and will be in even
better financial condition, if the Walnut Ridge wind turbine project comes to pass.
Bolin said continuing the waiver is important, although it does cost the district about $70,000 annually.
“We’re not keeping and retaining families with children because they can’t afford to live here because there are no good-paying jobs,” he said. “Now we can say it doesn’t cost to send your kids here, and it’s a good education.”
Superintendent Terry Gutshall expressed his approval of the waiver but also issued a warning.
“We realize that we’re a rarity as a school district, and we’re losing money,” he said. “We don’t know how many more years we can do this.”
But Bolin had a different take on the issue.
“Other superintendents wonder how we can do this,” he said. “Maybe they should sit up and take notice.”
