Avon board approves 2026'27 student fees to offset $300,000 state funding shortfall

The Avon Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees voted unanimously to approve a districtwide schedule of student fees for the 2026'27 school year aimed at covering an estimated $300,000 annual shortfall created by recent state changes.

"Beginning 07/01/2023, legislation was passed that eliminated textbook and curriculum charges for our parents," Mrs. Glass told the board during the meeting. "While that is beneficial for families, that is an unfunded mandate for Avon Schools that impacts us over $300,000 annually." The board approved the fee schedule on a motion by Mike, seconded by Josh, that carried 5'0'00.

Administrators said the proposed charges are limited to consumable and hands-on materials that are not adopted district curriculum (which the district continues to provide). Mrs. Alday summarized the proposed ranges: kindergarten through fifth-grade supply fees run roughly $11.56 to $14.01; middle-school charges vary by course; the average high-school fee, she said, is about $25, though some career and technical courses have higher costs.

Administrators said the district consulted legal counsel and will protect families qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch: the district may assess fees but "we just can't send them to collections," Mrs. Glass said. The district estimates its free/reduced rate at about 49''% and expects that billing and fee assistance processes will mean not all assessed fees will be collected.

Board members pressed for details about high-school course fees, payment timing and fee collection. Mrs. Alday said course-level charges appear in the packet by course and that families will receive one bill that lists semester or quarter cost breakdowns but is issued once; administrators said they will prorate fees when students drop courses and will work with families on payment plans.

Board members framed the vote as a reluctant response to state underfunding: "We gave the state three years to try to fix this," Dr. Scott Windham said, "and it's clearly not going to be fixed anytime soon." The board voted 5'0'00 to approve the 2026'27 student fees.

The administration said it will send communication about the fees to families this spring, provide course-level detail for high-school classes and offer payment-plan and support options for families who request assistance.