833 community education program fees up for next year

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Fees for some School District Community Education programs will rise next year, according the to budget presented by Director Ernie Pines and approved by the school board on May 22.

Kids Club fees for after-school and before-school programs will increase $2 per day, School Readiness programs by $5 per month and the price of a series of swimming lessons will go up $3.

The Kids Club increases are based on increased participation and strong growth in the program, Pines said.

Fees for the Kindergarten Plus program will go from $14 to $15 a day. The district is required to pay for half-day programs. Parents who choose all-day are assessed a fee.

Projections for the 2008-2009 school year include having Kindergarten Plus in all 14 elementary schools with 31 classes, each with 20 students.

However, space availability and participant counts might impact the actual number of sections offered this fall. Spanish Immersion all-day kindergarten will continue with three all-day classes at Crestview Elementary School in Cottage Grove.

The fee increase is attributed to an increase of one additional class, reallocation of staff salaries to “better reflect time spent,” reduced aid and increased district chargebacks to community education for media, music, and physical education specialists, Pines said.

The budget includes $34,000 to assist families who qualify for free and reduced lunch prices, a Minnesota Department of Education standard used to determine disadvantaged students, to pay for youth programs.

The total financial aid budget for Kindergarten Plus for next year is $225,000, according to Pines.

Increased fees for community education programs reflect a 4.5 percent increase in the budget to $10,025,444.

Most community education programs are funded with fees and additional money coming from a local tax levy, state aid, grants and gifts, according to Pines.

Of the total budget, 75 percent goes for youth programs for ages 5 to 18 with 9 percent to adult programs and 16 percent for preschoolers.

The local tax levy is down from 14 percent of revenue to 12 percent for next year and will be offset by an increase in state funding, Pine said.

Early Childhood and Family Education programs are funded by $125 per estimated population less than 5 years old.

Salary increases for community education staff members are estimated at 2.5 percent.

Tags: education, community, fees, 833, pines, school, baord