The Sun-Star Courier (Ohio) June 9, 2010

HEADLINE: Strongsville Schools planning $60 general education fee for students

Chuck Polifiaco


STRONGSVILLE The Strongsville School Board plans to implement a general education fee estimated at about $60 for all students for the 2010-11 school year.

In an effort to help the financially strapped school district, the board has asked Assistant Superintendent John Krupinski to further develop information concerning the fee and have that information available at the next board meeting scheduled for June 17.

The board is also seriously looking into a pay-to-participate fee for students involved in sports and other activities during the upcoming school year.

While board members expressed discomfort about applying fees to students, they stated that they have to take some measures in helping the school district meet its budget.

"We are going in the opposite direction, we are going backwards here," said Board Vice President David Frazee during the three-plus hour meeting held last Thursday concerning the budget cuts and other matters. "We can't keep putting this off. We are in dire straits here."
Board Member Ruth Brickley said she feels the board is continually plugging up small holes in a dike, concerning the loss of money the school district has been facing, adding she wondered how much longer that could last.

By implementing a general education fee of $60 for each student, Krupinski said the school board could obtain about $408,000 for the year, based on the 6,800 students in the school district.

But school board members were concerned about families that have three or more children in the schools. Board President Jennifer Sinisgalli said she wanted the assistant superintendent to further define the fee and analyze the impact of families in the district with three or more students before the board takes a vote.

The board is looking into a reduced rate for those families with multiple children.

In May, Krupinski presented the board with a variety of possible budget cuts totaling $3.61 million. During the last several sessions, the board has been looking at the proposed cuts. It has ruled out some, such as the elimination of middle school foreign language courses and elementary instrumental music courses, while keeping others such as reassigning staff members and finding replacements for other positions under consideration.

Concerning the pay to participate program, Krupinski said if a $300 fee was implemented for those students, the school district could save about $450,000.

Board Member David Gusman expressed concern about the program, stating that the board can't rush into a decision to charge all athletes in the district.

Frazee said school officials should look at other school districts that are charging students to participate in athletic events and see if their programs are successful or not.

"Our future is pay to participate, no matter how much you charge," Krupinski said. "You have to be fair and honest up front."

The assistant superintendent said he is going to meet with Albion and Center Middle School athletic coordinators concerning their sports activities programs in the seventh and eighth grades as well as with Paul Moses, athletic director at Strongsville High School, concerning the number of students involved in their athletic programs. A detailed report will be given to board members by the next meeting.

The board further discussed the elimination of supplemental supplies and activities on the elementary school level, such as the math and science clubs, student councils, the yearbook, school newspapers, detention monitors, student recognition programs, talent shows, fitness clubs, and testing programs.

Board members felt that instead of eliminating all supplemental programs on the elementary level, which could save about $103,000, that school officials should take a fair look at all programs on the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Krupinski said he was going to look at supplemental reductions at all school levels. The board stated that supplemental reductions shouldn't exceed $150,000. The board also stated that it was not opposed to having other organizations, such as the PTA or other businesses paying for some of the supplemental programs.

"We will take a look at this districtwide and see what the board wants to do keep," he said.