>School Activity Fees : Hitting a sore spot
As I remember in the Day, only about 4-5 years ago, we filled out a lunch form and sent it into the elementary schools who at the time had the staff to process the checks and lunch orders. The BOE switched to Community Pass and eliminated that position in each of the elementary school, thus saving money.
Now I am being told that the village has been picking up the tab for processing charges. Maybe the new guard should look at the old guards notes and remember some of us have been around along time.
Also the lunch room staff was reduced and parents are taking shifts in the cafe to help with the control in the lunch room. Thus more savings.
Helping out in the lunch room has always bothered me with how it was mandated it is the parents obligation, just as it is with many other things that have changed in the last 10 years.
Come-on, I have to buy dry-erase markers for the classrooms, one for homeroom and the other for a specific class. And there are others so that the teachers can do their jobs. My trip to staples was over $200 for a middle school supply list, I used a charge card and they did not hit me with a convenience fee.
Spanish teachers were eliminated in the elementary school, is there now a fee for Rosetta Stone on Family Access, save money eliminate positions and charge the student’s family.
Now I need to pay multiple times to register my child for lunch funds and student activities, with a convenience fee? No thanks, I will sent in my check at my convenience or cash for lunch. Hope they have the staff to handle it.
