Parents don't like paying school and class fees - especially after paying hundreds of dollars each year in property tax that is supposed to support the school system.
However, according to State Office of Education officials, fees for textbooks, supplies, activities and other school functions are allowed as long as they are approved by the local school district board. There is no limit to how many fees or how much a district can charge."Even though there is no limit, the language of the law says the districts should use fees prudently and should not make them excessive," said Scott Bean, deputy state school superintendent.
Because there is no limit, parents in some districts pay many more fees than parents in other districts. This discrepancy has state education officials concerned, Bean said. In most cases it's the poorer districts that are charging the most fees.
"It appears there is some correlation between a district's wealth and the amount of fees it tends to charge," Bean said. "If their valuation is somewhat low, then the district makes it up with fee charges."
This theory is not entirely true in Utah County. Alpine School District, one of the state's poorest districts, has one of the state's most extensive fee schedules. On the other hand, Nebo School District is also one the state's poorest districts but does not assess nearly as many fees as Alpine. Provo School District is considered much wealthier than Alpine but has a comparable fee schedule.
Alpine is the only district that charges every student seventh grade and older a library fee, a computer lab fee and a $15 deposit. Alpine and Nebo charge class-change fees; Provo does not. Nebo assesses a registration fee but is the only Utah County district that does not charge an activity fee.
In Provo and Alpine school districts, it cost most middle school and junior high school students more than $50 to register. Most high school students in Provo and Alpine spent more than $100 to register.
In Nebo, most seventh-graders pay about $7, most junior high students less than $50 and most high school students less than $100 to register.
State educators and legislators have discussed the possibility of establishing a statewide fee schedule, but they don't want to take authority away from local school officials. State education officials feel it's more appropriate for citizens who disagree with fees to debate the issue with their local school board, Bean said.
"We feel it's more appropriate that the fees be regulated locally and monitored by the citizens. They have a better feel of what they need and what is appropriate," he said.
If teachers are charging fees not approved by the district, parents should contact district officials. According to state law, teachers cannot require students to purchase materials through the school if they are available from another source.
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(Additional information)
To fee or not to fee
High school fees for 1991-92
Alpine Provo Nebo
Towel & locker $5 $9 none
Textbooks $30 $50 $35
Library $1 none none
Computer lab $10 none none
Class charge $5 none $10
Drivers education $30 $20 $40
Registration none none $25
Activity $25 $15 none
Participation $20 $25 $25
Per student maximum $50 $50 $60
Per family maximum $120 $100 $90
Class fees:
Alpine: Debate, drama, cheerleading, drilll team, drafting, science, art, shop, home economics, orchestra and music.
Provo: Accounting, chemistry, art, auto, band, orchestra, food, child development, clothing, word processing, foreign language, hirticulture, physiology, dance, cheerleading and drill team.
Nebo: Accounting, art, auto, food, band, choir, cheerleading and drill team.