Hike in School User Fees Possible

Student fees at Marblehead schools may jump significantly, after what's expected to be a heated School Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday.

One proposal would hike the user fees for families with more than one high school student from $480 to $750 a year. It would increase single student fees from $340 to $375.  The fees cover student participation in after-school athletics, fine arts programs and clubs.

"As much as I hate to raise fees, there's only so much money in the budget for after-school activities," said School Committee chairwoman Patricia Blackmer.

Blackmer has written up a proposed fee schedule, which will be discussed at the School Committee meeting Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at the Village School. She said there could be a budget shortfall of about $20,000 that needs to be bridged.

Among other things, the fees would pay for a 2% raise for coaches this year, which totals about  $4,500.

Some parents are expected to attend the meeting to protest fee hikes. They're not alone. School Committee member Jonathan Lederman is against any increase.

"The failed overrides this spring sent a message -- people have had enough of this kind of thing," Lederman said. "In a recession with so much unemployment and underemployment, raising school fees is not serving our constituents at all."

Lederman said there's a nearly $6,000 surplus from last year's user fee budget. And he complained that the schools aren't doing an adequate job collecting current fees from families.

"Before we raise fees again, let's let our new business manager come up with a plan to collect the user fees we already have. Raising fees again is premature."

Blackmer acknowledged that times are tight for many families, and added the schools will continue to offer hardship waivers and family payment plans.

"We may have to boost fees or cut programs," she said. "And we all agree that these after-school programs are really valuable."