Ladue Parents May See Activity Fees in 2013-2014 School Year

During their regular work session, the Ladue School Board decided to wait on more information regarding charging a fee for students who participate in after-school activities.

Last year, the district charged students a blanket $50-activity fee for high school students and a $25 one for middle schoolers. Earlier this year, however, the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled that it was unconstitutional to charge parents an activity fee when their child did not participate in an after-school activity.

As a result, Ladue offered to refund the fee to parents who desired to be refunded.

Charging parents a fee for students’ activities is one of the ways in which the Ladue School Board is looking at generating some revenue, much needed due to recent lower property values and taxes, with which the district is largely funded.

Although the district will not be seeking an activity fee for the 2012-2013 school year, parents may see such a fee if their child is enrolled in an activity in the years to come.

“Right now, the board would like the administration to come up with more information regarding seeking an activity fee,” said Susan Dielmann, director of communications for the Ladue School District. “I am not sure exactly what this will look like, but it will not be a blanket fee, and there would be a cap for those students who participate in many activities so that they are not paying multiple times.”

Dielmann also said that it is likely the fee would be waived for students who cannot afford it.

“What we would likely do is that if kids are on the free and reduced lunch program they wouldn’t be required to pay it,” Dielmann said.

The board will probably make a decision on the subject late this year or at the first board meeting next year, Dielmann said.

“We would want to have this decision early on the year so we can communicate with parents about what we are doing and why,” Dielmann said.

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Ladue School Board to Discuss Activity Fees