Mill Creek board approves handbook updates and new consumable, per‑sport fees

The Mill Creek Community School Corporation board on a 5–0 vote approved consolidated updates to district and school handbooks for the 2026–27 year, including new consumable fees, clarified visitor and volunteer requirements and an updated attendance standard tied to the state's 94% model.

Mr. Blankenship, who presented the package, said the district consolidated building-level changes into a single document and proposed consumable fees to cover noncore materials that are used up during the school year. "Kindergarten has the highest cost," he said; staff provided a sample schedule showing first grade at $9.68 and most other elementary grades at $13.68. He said high‑school consumable fees vary by class, from under $5 up to about $55 for lab‑intensive courses such as biotechnology, and that students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch would not be assessed these fees.

The handbook updates also include tightened attendance language to emphasize the state’s 94% model — described at the meeting as a roughly 10-day absence threshold after which a student is identified as having a chronic attendance issue — clearer visitor ID and volunteer background‑check requirements, consolidation of athletic content into a separate athletic handbook and additions to discipline sections (including AI‑use guidelines and 'look‑alike device' language).

The board discussed implementation and invoicing. Staff said the district will attach course fees to students' PowerSchool schedules so parents see fees at registration, and the district plans to bill once a year with adjustments for midyear schedule changes handled by guidance and the school treasurer. "Our hope is once per year," Mr. Blankenship said.

Board members asked to review highlighted handbook language before final publication; staff confirmed handbook text will be accessible through the returning‑student registration link. With no further questions, the board moved to approve the handbook and consumable‑fee package; the motion passed, 5–0.

The board also approved a separate change to athletic and club fees, moving from a single $25 annual athletic fee to a $25 per‑sport or per‑activity fee. District staff said the per‑activity model is intended to eliminate frequent post‑event transportation invoices and that waivers will be available to ensure participation is not barred by cost. The athletic fee change was approved 5–0.

The next steps are for staff to finalize the living handbook links and the district’s fee schedules in PowerSchool prior to fall registration, and to circulate the AI‑policy language with returning‑student materials.