District 205 Fees Can Add Up—Especially for Parents of York Athletes

The in-person registration phase is going on this week for York High School students, who must visit York to collect their books, have their yearbook photos taken—and have their parents write that big check to pay for it all.

While the initial shock has somewhat worn off since the Elmhurst District 205 School Board approved big fee increases in March 2011, some parents, especially those of York High School athletes, still struggle to pay them. The new fees, initiated along with the layoff of 39 teachers districtwide that year, were necessary to avoid a $3 million budget deficit.  

Since that tumultuous time, District 205 athletics, music and other fees have remained about the same, with the general enrollment fees increasing slightly for 2013-14.

Here's the breakdown on general registration fees:

• Pre-kindergarten: $83
• Kindergarten: $118
• Grades one through five: $182
• Grades six through eight: $172
• Grades nine through 11: $70
• Grade 12: $94.50

At the elementary and high school levels, the fee for instrumental music has remained at $150, and vocal music at $65. Middle school athletes will pay $34.25.

But parents of high school athletes have had to shoulder a much larger burden since the 2010 fee increases went into effect. The fees have not increased this year, and families are capped at four charges per family, but even so, fees can get into the $1,000 range for families with more than one student. Here's what high school athletes are charged:

• Boys cross country and track: $125
• Girls cross country, track and soccer, as well as tennis, badminton, swimming, wrestling, water polo and cheerleading: $150 
• Boys soccer, and volleyball, baseball, softball, football, poms, gymnastics and bowling: $175
• Basketball and golf: $200

Add to that a technology fee of $35, art class fee of $26, lab fee of $25 and a drivers education fee for sophomores of $245—let alone the biggest expense of all, textbooks—and parents might feel the need to take on a second job. 

Parents of students in all grades who receive financial assistance are eligible for a fee waiver. And a group formed after the fee increases of 2010, York Student Enrichment Team, or YSET, raises money for York families who don't qualify for a fee waiver but still have a difficult time coming up with the money.

Read more about YSET here.

YSET grant application information for 2013-14 will be available after Sept. 15, according to the YSET web page. 

The group awarded more than $50,000 in grants last school year. YSET is composed of parents, administrators, faculty and community members, and it is their hope that YSET will not be needed forever. But with serious budget issues affecting District 205, fee reductions are not likely in the near term.

Related:

• School Board Will Look at Restructuring the District for Long-term Sustainability
• Difficult Budget Realities: District 205 Looks at Five-year Projections

Despite budget realities, the show must go on. York registration is this week, with seniors collecting their books Aug. 5; juniors, Aug. 6;  sophomores, Aug. 7; and all grades Aug. 8 and 12. 

The first day of school will be Monday, Aug. 19. It is a full attendance day for all students with the exception of Early Childhood families, who can drop in and meet the teacher that day. The first full day for Early Childhood is Aug. 20.

Freshmen get a little head start, with Freshman Family Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, and Freshman Day from 7:45 a.m. to noon Friday, Aug. 16.

For lots of back-to-school information, including school start times, medical requirements and more, visit the Back-to-school page on the District 205 website. 

For a breakdown of all District 205 fees, click here.

How are you coping with school fees this year? Let us know in the comments.

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