Students enrolling in Granite District high schools this fall will note an increase in the fees they pay for many activities. However, the Granite board did not recommend changes in junior high school fees.
Right up front for high school students, the basic fees for books and instructional materials and activities have been increased, and the activity fee is no longer optional. The combined fees for the current year were $40, with a $10 refund for books if they are returned in good condition. The new total will be $45, with the $10 refund still offered.A reluctant board raised the fees Tuesday night.
"This is an elephant we have to eat one bite at a time," said board member Judy Larson. The board is concerned that escalating fees are affecting more families.
The board compromised on the basic fee, which staff had recommended be raised to $50. The staff recommended that the book and activity fees be combined and be made mandatory because virtually all students benefit from the activities supported by the fees.
Unless each student pays, those who do pay are underwriting the costs for those who do not, board members said. High schools still are obligated to waive the fees for students who cannot pay them.
The higher fees approved by the board Tuesday are necessary to offset losses from fee waivers mandated by a 3rd District Court injunction last summer, said Wendall Sullivan, director of high school activities. Granite district's losses from waivers after fall registration were $170,005.
Granger High Principal Danny Talbot, who was in the audience, said the increases are essential if the high schools are to keep offering programs at the current level.
The board said it will continue to study fees and hopes for relief from the Legislature as well. The Legislature is expected to create a task force to study issues that have been raised by the court injunction, but recommendations would not be ready until the 1994 session.
The Granite board also approved fee increases for many activities.
Charges to participate in basketball and football will be $5 higher this fall, at a total $40. That does not include a $25 helmet reconditioning fee for football. Baseball, soccer, softball and wrestling fees all will increase by $5 to a total of $30. Ten-dollar increases for debate, swimming, track and volleyball will bring totals for those activities to $30 as well.
Members of cheerleading squads, cross country track, drill, golf and tennis teams also will see fees increase by $10 to a total of $25. Pep club membership will rise by $15. The limit on workbook fees went up from $15 to $20. Limits for computer labs, lifetime sports and industrial arts/home economics stayed at the 1992-93 level.
The board approved limits on some of the most expensive activities, including uniform and camp fees. Cheerleader and song leader expenses may not exceed $300; pep club and flag team, $200; drill team, $600; dance club, $100; marching, pep and jazz bands, $50.