Schools Collect About $10,000 in Owed Activity Fees

School officials have collected about $10,000 in Westborough High School and Gibbons Middle School activity fees in recent days, Director of Finance and Administration Irene Oliver told the school committee Monday night.

Last Wednesday night, WHS Athletic Director Johanna DiCarlo told the board that unpaid activity fees would affect the Nov. 26 winter sports tryouts. Students with outstanding balances are not allowed to participate in future fee-based school activities until that sum is paid.

The current fee is $200 per activity, with a $500 family cap.

DiCarlo’s comments were part of a bigger discussion about students with outstanding fee balances participating in school activities, and collecting those fees. DiCarlo and Coordinator of Fine Arts David Jost participated.

Monday night, Oliver said a number of parents have responded to a ConnectED e-mail and phone call the building coordinator sent last Friday evening. Those measures will become more frequent, Oliver said.

Some parents have indicated they either sent check or will have it soon, Oliver said.

"A good portion" of the outstanding balances as of last Wednesday night now have paid, she said.

Still, "there's also a good amount" still owed, she said.