503.11 Fines-Fee-Charges
FINES-FEE-CHARGES
The board believes students should respect school district property and assist in its preservation for future use by others. Students may be assessed fines, charges, or fees for textbooks, school supplies, eye protective devices, ear protective devices, summer school courses, driver education, discretionary transportation, student planners, cleaning and wear and tear of band/choir uniforms, musical instrument rental, activity tickets, software, overdue books/materials, damages to property.
The superintendent shall inform the board of the dollar amount to be charged to students or others for fines, charges, or fees annually. Parents of students meeting specific financial eligibility standards will be eligible for a waiver of student fees or a reduction of student fees based upon the request of the parent. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 256.7(20); 279.8; 280.10, .11; 282.6; 285.1;
301.1 (1995)
281 I.A.C. 18
1994 Op. Att’y Gen. 23
1990 Op. Att’y Gen. 79
1982 Op. Att’y Gen. 227
1980 Op. Att’y Gen. 532
Adopted: August 12, 1996
Reviewed: March 199
January 20, 2003
September 2006
December 17, 2012
Revised: September 15, 2008
503.11R1 Student Fee Waiver and Reduction Procedures
STUDENT FEE WAIVER AND REDUCTION PROCEDURES
The board recognizes that while certain fees charged students are appropriate and authorized, certain students and their families are not financially able to pay the fees. The school district will grant either full waivers, partial waivers or temporary waivers depending upon the circumstances and the students or student’s parents’ ability to meet the financial criteria.
A. Waivers
- Full Waivers- a student will be granted a full waiver of fees charged by the school district if the student or student’s parents meet the financial eligibility criteria for free meals under the Child Nutrition program. Family Investment Program, Supplemental Security Income guidelines, or transportation assistance under open enrollment. Students in foster care are also eligible for full waivers.
- Partial Waivers- a student will be granted a partial waiver of fees charged by the school district if the student or the student’s parents meet the financial eligibility criteria for reduced price meals offered under the Child Nutrition program. The reduction percentage will be ten (10) percent.
- Temporary Waivers- a student may be eligible for a temporary waiver of fees charged by the district in the event the student’s parents are facing financial difficulty. Temporary waivers may be applied for at any time throughout the school year and shall not extend beyond the end of the school year.
B. Application
Parents or students eligible for a fee waiver shall make an application on the form provided by the school district. Applications may be made at any time but must be renewed annually.
C. Confidentiality
The school district will treat the application and application process as any other student record and student confidentiality and access provisions will be followed.
D. Appeals
Denials of a waiver may be appealed to the superintendent.
E. Fines or charges assessed for damage or loss to school property are not fees and will not be waived.
F. Notice
The school district will annually notify parents and students of the waiver. The following information will be included in registration and printed in the parent handbook:
Students whose families meet the income guidelines for free and reduced price lunch, the Family Investment Program (FIP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), transportation assistance under open enrollment, or who are in foster care are eligible to have their student fees waived or partially waived. Students whose families are experiencing a temporary financial difficulty may be eligible for a temporary waiver of student fees. Parents or students who believe they may qualify for temporary financial hardship should complete the waiver form found in the registration material when they register for school. This waiver does not carry over from year to year and must be completed annually.
