On November 19, the Board of Directors will hold their first meeting in the District’s newly remodeled Administration Center

News Release

News Release

Everett Public Schools

May 28, 2009

For more information:

Mary Waggoner, 425-385-4049

School board considers higher school lunch prices and sports fees for 2009-10

At their meeting on Tuesday, school board members considered proposals to increase the cost of school lunches and charge fees for middle and high school athletics. Both steps are in response to public meeting comments and the results of a community budget survey, indicating such fees were a way of offsetting some of the state education budget shortfalls.

With these proposals, lunch prices would increase by 40 cents for elementary and middle school students – from $2.10 to $2.50 and from $2.35 to $2.75 respectively. High school lunches would increase 25 cents, from $2.75 to $3.00.

Athletic fees would be waived for students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. The proposed fees are $75 per high school sport with a limit of $150 per high school student per school year. Middle school proposed fees are $25 per middle school sport, with a limit of $75 per student per school year. No student will be denied the opportunity to play a sport based on these proposed fees.

In the meeting, Deputy Superintendent Matt McCauley explained, “A major goal of this fee proposal is to help offset the budget shortfalls facing the entire district and, at the same time, to put safety valves in place so that students are not discouraged from turning out for a sport or exploring a different sport because of costs.”

The school board has been able to avoid sports fees during previous budget discussions. As long-time board member Karen Madsen noted, “I feel badly that we are at this place, but feel better that it took us a lot longer to get to this place than it did other districts. We must remember that the state does not pay one penny of the cost for student activities, and these student fees are one consequence of the state’s budget shortfalls.”

The May 26 lunch price and sports fee discussion is considered a “first reading” of those proposals. Before the board approves any such fees, they will consider public comment on these and other budget considerations at their June 1, 2009 special board meeting. This special session from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Educational Service Center (4730 Colby Ave., Everett) is an opportunity for staff or community members to speak one-on-one with board members about the budget.

The board will next discuss lunch prices and sports fees at their June 9 regularly scheduled board meeting beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Educational Service Center .

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