District details tuition-based programming changes, aims to reduce subsidies
January 26, 2026 | Rochester Community School District, School Boards, Michigan
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Rochester Community Schools presented an audit of its tuition-based programs and recommended a series of price and operational changes intended to reduce or eliminate subsidies from the general fund.
Matt McDaniel summarized Strategic Plan 15, which reviewed enrichment programs, preschool and school-aged care, and recommended program-specific tuition changes, renegotiation of vendor contracts for some enrichment offerings and program cancellations for low-enrollment classes. "The success criteria was by 06/30/2026, have programming designed that will not need to be subsidized by general fund," McDaniel said.
McDaniel gave specific examples: a 2-day, 3-hour preschool offering will be priced at $2,130 (an increase of $80 from the prior rate), a new 3-day, 3-hour preschool option would be $3,200, and a 4-day, 3-hour offering would be $4,260 (up $160). He also reported that enrichment programming historically brought in roughly $676,000 in revenue while paying out about $732,000 in expenses last year, producing an approximate operating shortfall of $56,000.
Board members asked how price changes and enrollment shifts would affect staffing and access. McDaniel said school-aged care enrollment had increased (he cited roughly 750 students/families and a current wait list of about 163) and that some positions are direct hires while other enrichment offerings use contracted vendors. On staffing, administrators noted statewide childcare-worker shortages and said pay increases alone did not guarantee sufficient staff.
Trustees discussed options such as moving printed brochures to digital distribution (paper brochures cost roughly $40,000 for printing and postage) and adding digital sign-ups or QR-enabled postcards to better measure community interest. McDaniel said the plan is largely complete and the district will provide final artifacts and a revenue/expense comparison after implementation.
The audit's stated goal is to design tuition-based offerings that are self-sustaining by next fiscal year while balancing access for district families.
Matt McDaniel summarized Strategic Plan 15, which reviewed enrichment programs, preschool and school-aged care, and recommended program-specific tuition changes, renegotiation of vendor contracts for some enrichment offerings and program cancellations for low-enrollment classes. "The success criteria was by 06/30/2026, have programming designed that will not need to be subsidized by general fund," McDaniel said.
McDaniel gave specific examples: a 2-day, 3-hour preschool offering will be priced at $2,130 (an increase of $80 from the prior rate), a new 3-day, 3-hour preschool option would be $3,200, and a 4-day, 3-hour offering would be $4,260 (up $160). He also reported that enrichment programming historically brought in roughly $676,000 in revenue while paying out about $732,000 in expenses last year, producing an approximate operating shortfall of $56,000.
Board members asked how price changes and enrollment shifts would affect staffing and access. McDaniel said school-aged care enrollment had increased (he cited roughly 750 students/families and a current wait list of about 163) and that some positions are direct hires while other enrichment offerings use contracted vendors. On staffing, administrators noted statewide childcare-worker shortages and said pay increases alone did not guarantee sufficient staff.
Trustees discussed options such as moving printed brochures to digital distribution (paper brochures cost roughly $40,000 for printing and postage) and adding digital sign-ups or QR-enabled postcards to better measure community interest. McDaniel said the plan is largely complete and the district will provide final artifacts and a revenue/expense comparison after implementation.
The audit's stated goal is to design tuition-based offerings that are self-sustaining by next fiscal year while balancing access for district families.
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