Published in the July 12, 2018 edition
By JILLIAN STRING
NORTH READING — Director of Finance and Operations Michael Connelly presented a memorandum to School Committee members June 25 recommending a new user fee structure for extracurricular activities across the district.
According to Connelly, with the stipend structure detailed in the new collective bargaining agreement with the North Reading Education Association (NREA), the administration is recommending the implementation of user fees for extracurricular activities beginning in the 2018–19 school year.
The proposal will maintain the current $200 extracurricular fee at the middle and high schools, and will add a performing arts fee of $100 at the high school, $75 at the middle school, and $60 at the elementary schools.
Committee member Mel Webster, who served on the negotiating committee, noted that the fee will not be imposed for standard band and chorus across the district.
“A lot of analysis and discussion with the administration went into this proposal, why we landed at the proposal we’re making this evening, and what these amounts are,” Connelly said.
According to Connelly, a subcommittee composed of NREA members, as well as members of the administration, began meeting in the fall of 2017 to review the current extracurricular fees and stipends in order to create a structure that was more equitable in compensating staff for their efforts.
Using data collected through surveys and a review of language from the contacts of comparable districts, the subcommittee created four categories and stipend amounts that were “equitable and market competitive.”
With feedback from staff, each extracurricular activity has been assigned to a category, however procedures have been created for groups to request movement between categories, as well as for the creation of new clubs and activities.
“Because this is a new process, and there are certainly some unknowns that do exist, and the projection of this revenue and what participation and student enrollment would be, we do certainly recommend that this proposal would be revisited on an ongoing basis during the spring of 2019 for fiscal feasibility and other adjustments as needed,” Connelly stated.
Leveling the playing field for the arts
Committee member Dyana Boutwell inquired as to whether the performing arts fee was a “one-time fee” or a fee per activity, such as participation in the play and the musical.
“There were several proposals talked about, but we felt importantly starting out introducing a new fee, the administration felt it was important that it was just a one-time fixed fee,” Connelly clarified.
“We’re trying to strike the right balance with this proposal,” Superintendent Jon Bernard added. “We don’t want to suggest a fee that’s too high that it discourages participation, so we’re trying to be conservative in the fee that we’re proposing.”
Webster noted that data from surveys, as well as parent comments, showed that the performing arts staff puts in equal, and in some cases more, time than that of the coaching staff, but the stipends for athletic coaches have historically been almost triple those of the performing arts staff.
“I think none of us are happy about having to charge fees for these activities, but that is the reality we’re facing,” Committee member Rich McGowan said.
Bernard stated that it was important for families to understand that activities deemed part of the curriculum, such as band, chorus, and National Honor Society, will not have a user fee.
“I know there’s a cap on various fees, like the athletics, for families. Is there a family cap that would go toward, like if some students are doing sports and some doing regular activities, and some doing Masquers, is there any combined cap or just caps on each one individually?” Committee Vice Chairman Scott Buckley asked.
According to Connelly, there is no family cap for the extracurricular fees at this time. The administration felt that they would rather have a one-time fee rather than individual fees for each production or activity. This will be revisited next spring.
Financial assistance
Connelly also noted that the extracurricular fees will fall under the financial assistance policy, meaning students who qualify for free or reduced lunch would receive a full or partial waiver, and that there will be a separate assistance application for those families who fall just outside of the free and reduced lunch bracket.
Parent, and former School Committee member, Julie Koepke said that last year she paid around $300 for her elementary school child to participate in the school drama program, so a $60 fee was a welcomed reduction in cost.
