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Red Deer Public spending $300,000 to further lower school fees

Aug 17, 2017 | 12:18 PM

Red Deer Public Schools is chipping in to lower school fees as much as possible for its families.

The district is amending its budget to include an additional $300,000 toward lowering school fees. The move comes on the heels of $780,000 in provincial support earlier this year.

After previously passing a balanced budget for the 2017-18 school year, the new spending to reduce school fees will result in Red Deer Public running a deficit.

“In making the change, Red Deer Public is offsetting the costs of optional fees not covered by the province,” the district says in a release. “The Board wanted reduce barriers to ensure all students have access to option courses.”

The move helps ensure families will not pay fees for regular instructional materials and resources. However, there will still be some fees that families will have to cover on their own.

The amount each family will save varies by school and grade level,” says Bruce Buruma, Red Deer Public Schools spokesperson. “With provincial funding and district support and 10,700 students it will average out to $100 per student. The most significant impact will be at the high school level where course fees last year were $140 per student.”

The list of fees families will still be responsible for includes:

K to 5
– 
Field trips
– Optional purchases, examples include: school agendas, yearbooks, music recorders, school wear, swim fees

6 to 8
– Field trips
– Locks
– Extracurricular activities
– Music instrument rentals
– Optional purchases, examples include: school agendas, yearbooks, school wear

9 to 12
– Comprehensive Fee ($50.00) including: student leadership ($5), activity transportation ($35), locks / locker rentals ($5), and student photo ID ( $5)
– Field trips
– Extracurricular activities
– Music instrument rentals
– Optional purchases examples include: yearbooks, school wear
– Graduation fee
– Direct costs for enhanced projects in option courses