5046
Student Fees Policy
The school district shall provide free instruction in accordance with the Nebraska State Constitution and the Nebraska statutes. The district also provides activities, programs, and services that extend beyond the minimum level of constitutionally required free instruction. Under the Public Elementary and Secondary Student Fee Authorization Act, the district is permitted to charge students fees for these activities or to require students to provide specialized equipment and attire for certain purposes. This policy is subject to further interpretation or guidance by administrative or board regulations. Students are encouraged to contact their building administration, their teachers or their coaches, and sponsors for further specifics.
Definitions.
1. “Students” means students, their parents, guardians or other legal representatives.
2. “Extracurricular activities” means student activities or organizations that (1) are supervised or administered by the district; (2) do not count toward graduation or advancement between grades; and (3) are not otherwise required by the district.
3. “Post-secondary education costs” means tuition and other fees associated with obtaining credit from a post-secondary educational institution.
B. Listing of Fees Charged by this District.
1. Guidelines for Clothing Required for Specified Courses and Activities.
Students are responsible for complying with the district’s grooming and attire guidelines and for furnishing all clothing required for any special programs, courses or activities in which they participate. The teacher, coach, or sponsor of the activity will provide students with written guidelines that detail any special clothing requirements and explain why the special clothing is required for the specific program, course or activity.
2. Safety Equipment and Attire.
The district will provide students with all safety equipment and attire that is required by law. Building administrators will assure that (a) such equipment is available in the appropriate classes and areas of the school buildings, (b) teachers are directed to instruct students in the use of such devices, and (c) students use the devices as required. Students are responsible for using the devices safely and as instructed.
3. Personal or Consumable Items.
The district does provide students with personal or consumable items for participation in courses and activities including, but not limited to, pencils, paper, pens, erasers and notebooks. Students who wish to supply their own personal or consumable items may do so, as long as those items comply with the requirements of the district. The district will provide students with facilities, equipment, materials and supplies, including books. Students are responsible for the careful and appropriate use of such property. Students will be charged for damage to school property caused by the student and will be held responsible for the reasonable replacement cost of any school property that they lose.
4. Materials Required for Course Projects.
The district will provide students with the materials necessary to complete all basic curricular projects. In courses where students choose to produce a project that requires materials beyond the basic materials provided by the district, the students will furnish the materials, purchase the materials from the school, or purchase the materials from an outside vendor with an order form provided by the school.
5. Technological Devices
The district will provide students with the technological devices necessary to complete all basic curricular projects. To the extent that a student is not required by the district’s curriculum to utilize a device off district property, the district may charge students a convenience fee to take the device off district property. The maximum dollar amount of this convenience fee charged by the district will be $100.
As with all school property, students may be charged for damage to such devices. To protect against such potential losses, students and parents may, but are not required, to purchase insurance coverage for the devices. The maximum dollar amount of this insurance coverage facilitated by the district will be $100. The district may also charge a damage deposit which will be returned or may be rolled to cover the damage deposit for the next year if it is not needed to cover the costs of any damage to the device. The maximum dollar amount of this damage deposit will be $100.
Additionally, the district may allow students to purchase technological devices by arranging for the students to purchase these devices through a single, or series of, payments.
6. Extracurricular Activities.
The district does not generally charge students a fee to participate in extracurricular activities to cover the district’s reasonable costs in offering such activities. The district may require students to furnish specialized equipment and clothing that is required for participation in extracurricular activities, or may charge a reasonable fee for the use of district-owned equipment or attire. Attached to this policy is a list of the fees charged for particular activities. The coach or sponsor will provide students with additional written guidelines detailing the fees charged, the equipment and/or clothing required, or the usage fee charged. The guidelines will explain the reasons that fees, equipment and/or clothing are required for the activity.
The following list details the maximum dollar amount of all extracurricular activities fees and the specifications for any equipment or attire required for participation in extracurricular activities:
Cheerleading, Drill Team, Flag Corps:
Students must purchase uniforms and shoes selected by the sponsor and/or student group. The maximum dollar amount charged by the school district for these items will be: $500
Football:
Students must provide their own football shoes, undergarments, and mouthguards
Golf:
Students must provide their own golf shoes, undergarments, and clubs
Softball and Baseball:
Students must provide their own shoes, gloves, and undergarments
Track, Cross Country, Volleyball, and Wrestling:
Students must provide their own shoes and undergarments
Future Farmers of America:
Students must purchase their own jackets and pay dues
FCCLA: $___
Students must pay dues
7. Post-Secondary Education Costs.
Some students enroll in postsecondary courses while still enrolled in the district’s high school. As a general rule, students must pay all costs associated with such post-secondary courses. However, for a course in which students receive high school credit or a course being taken as part of an approved accelerated or differentiated curriculum program, the district shall offer the course without charge for tuition, transportation, books, or other fees. Students who choose to apply for post-secondary education credit for these courses must pay tuition and all other fees associated with obtaining credits from a post-secondary educational institution. The costs of these items will naturally vary, but the maximum dollar amount of the fee is anticipated to be $1,500 per course.
8. Transportation Costs.
The district will charge students reasonable fees for transportation services provided by the district to the extent permitted by federal and state statutes and regulations.
The maximum dollar amount of the transportation fee charged by this district shall be $100.
9. Copies of Student Files or Records.
The district will charge a fee for making copies of a student’s files or records for the parents or guardians of such student. The Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee shall establish a schedule of student record fees. Parents of students have the right to inspect and review the students’ files or records without the payment of a fee, and the district shall not charge a fee to search for or retrieve any student’s files or records.
The district will charge a fee of $0.25 per page for reproduction of student records.
10. Participation in Before-and-After-School or Pre-Kindergarten Services.
The district will charge reasonable fees for participation in before-and-after school or pre-kindergarten services offered by the district pursuant to statute.
The maximum dollar amount charged by the district for these services shall be $2,500.
11. Participation in Summer School or Night School.
The district will charge reasonable fees for participation in summer school or night school and may charge reasonable fees for correspondence courses.
The maximum dollar amount charged by the district for summer and night school shall be $1,500.
12. Charges for Food Consumed by Students.
The district will charge for items that students purchase from the district’s breakfast and lunch programs. The fees charged for these items will be set according to applicable federal and state statutes and regulations. The district will charge students for the cost of food, beverages, and the like that students purchase from a school store, vending machine, booster club or from similar sources. Students may be required to bring money or food for field trip lunches and similar activities.
13. Charges for Musical Extracurricular Activities.
Students who qualify for fee waivers under this policy will be provided, at no charge, the use of a musical instrument in optional music courses that are not extracurricular activities.
14. Contributions for Junior and Senior Class Extracurricular Activities.
Students are eligible to participate in a number of unique extracurricular activities during their last two years in high school, including prom, various senior recognitions, and graduation. In order to fund these extracurricular activities, the school district may ask each student to make a contribution to their class’s fund. This contribution is completely voluntary. Students who chose not to contribute to the class fund are still eligible to participate in the extra activities.
C. Waiver Policy.
Students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches under United States Department of Agriculture child nutrition programs shall be provided a fee waiver or be provided the necessary materials or equipment without charge for (1) participation in extracurricular activities, (2) materials for course projects, and (3) the use of a musical instrument in optional music courses that are not extracurricular activities. Actual participation in the free or reduced-price lunch program is not required to qualify for the waivers provided in this section. The district is not obligated to provide any particular type or quality of equipment or other material to eligible students. Students who wish to be considered for waiver of a particular fee must submit a completed fee waiver application to their building principal.
D. Distribution of Policy.
This policy will be published in the Student Handbook or its equivalent that will be provided to students at no cost.
Voluntary Contributions to Defray Costs.
The district will, when appropriate, request donations of money, materials, equipment or attire from parents, guardians and other members of the community to defray the costs of providing certain services and activities to students. These requests are not requirements and staff members of the district are directed to clearly communicate that fact to students, parents and patrons.
F. Fund-Raising Activities
Students may be permitted or required to engage in fund-raising activities to support various curricular and extracurricular activities in which they participate. Students who decline to participate in fund-raising activities are not eligible under this policy for waiver of the costs or fees which the fund-raising activity was meant to defray.
Student Fee Fund.
The school board hereby establishes a Student Fee Fund. The Student Fee Fund shall be a separate school district fund that will not be funded by tax revenue, and that will serve a depository for all monies collected from students for (1) participation in extracurricular activities, (2) post-secondary education costs, and (3) summer school or night school courses. Monies in the Student Fee Fund shall be expended only for the purposes for which they were collected from students.
Adopted on: June 2023
Revised on: _________________________
Reviewed on: ________________________