District recommends reinstating student fees; administrators cite about $80,000 in unpaid balances

At the April 27 finance committee meeting, Dave Wilkinson told members the administration will ask the board to reinstate student book and supply fees for the 2026–27 school year, after the fees were suspended during the COVID period beginning in 2021.

"Those fees will provide an additional recurring revenue source," Wilkinson said, noting the recommendation is based on a review of comparable DuPage County districts and includes a communication plan to notify families before registration opens. The district will continue to accept and review fee‑waiver applications for qualifying families.

Wilkinson reviewed specific proposed changes: a $1 increase to PE shirts to $10 while shorts remain $12; student parking to stay at $70 per semester; a 25‑cent increase to lunch prices and a 5‑cent increase for breakfast and milk; adult tickets for fall play to increase from $10 to $12; and a $5 bump in certain facility usage rates. The administration also recommended ending a district subsidy for cosmetology materials so cosmetology students would pay the full course cost.

Wilkinson said the administration has identified roughly $40,000 in unpaid student‑fee balances (drivers ed, lost/damaged devices, IDs and similar charges) and another roughly $40,000 in unpaid lunch balances, for about $80,000 total. He described collection challenges tied to state policy: "We are not allowed to deny a student a free meal," he said, and noted a proposed Illinois Comptroller offset program that might have helped districts was never implemented for school districts.

The administration plans to pursue additional collection efforts, including outreach to a collection agency, while continuing to ensure students are not denied meals or otherwise penalized. Wilkinson said the fee‑reinstatement item will be presented on the regular board meeting consent agenda for a vote in May.

Committee members asked about the treatment of families who qualify for waivers and stressed the district should avoid negatively impacting students when parents cannot pay; administration repeatedly said waivers remain available and staff will work with families who demonstrate need.