Kennewick board preserves middle-school activity fees, orders yearlong study to pursue waiver

The Kennewick School District Board of Directors voted to maintain current middle-school activity and athletic fees while commissioning a yearlong funding analysis to recommend how fees might be reduced or eliminated when levy funding becomes available.

Melissa Johnson and BJ Wilson presented the board with background and a recommendation to use the 2026-27 school year to "conduct a funding analysis and develop a plan" examining potential elimination of middle-school user fees and related student charges. "We recommend using the 26-27 school year to conduct a funding analysis and develop a plan for the board of directors to consider," they said.

Board members said the exercise behind pulling the fees from consent was to allow time for a more thorough review. The board approved a motion "to maintain the current Middle School user athletic fees, maintain those levels at their current level, and to proceed with the study as discussed." The motion passed with an affirmative advisory vote from student representative Diego and unanimous votes from present board members.

Supporters of the study told the board the focus would begin with middle school to boost participation among younger students and then expand to review other fees and transparent accounting of what each fee pays for. One presenter emphasized the goal of ensuring fees are "not a potential barrier" to participation.

Next steps: staff will prepare the scope and timeline for the funding analysis in 2026-27 and return to the board with a proposal for consideration once levy revenue assumptions have been finalized.