Comments on: Fees for Public Schools

By: John Palo

John Palo — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 03:05:43 +0000

I do not hail from Utah originally so I was rather taken aback by my neighbor’s comment that it should not cost more than $150 to register my daughter for school (7th grade)! Let me see if I got this correct; we have to pay extra money for curricular activities when extra-curricular activities are subsidized? Basically, the local school board is, in effect, taxing all its students to raise money which is then spend on extra-curricular activities that benefit only a few students. Sounds a lot like the systems Marx and Lenin were so strongly in favor of years ago.

By: Rako

Rako — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 18:18:56 +0000

In my opinion, if people really cared about children in Utah’s public and private schools they would abolish corporal punishment completely.

A legislative analysis of this issue can be found at:

http://www.socialtext.net/utah-politicopia/index.cgi?action=display_html;page_name=s_b_101_to_abolish_corporal_punishment_in_public_schools

By: Darryl Alder

Darryl Alder — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 06:34:25 +0000

I consider textbook fees and other mandatory fees an additional tax borne by those with children in school. Our state constitution provides for a free public education and the children in our district do NOT have a free education. Worse, fee waivers place a burden on students who can pay, making this a clear form of double dipping when it comes to taxes.

However that said, we are so addicted to these fees we could NOT operate the system without them. No source from the state will help this enough and since these fees are site based there is not fair way to administer them.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 16:09:51 +0000

Charter schools (or any public school) *may* require uniforms, so long as they do so in general terms and don’t specify brands, logos, or exact shades/fabrics. For example, the school could require a light blue button-down shirt and dark slacks, but they may not require the uniform be purchased through the school, and they may not require VanHusen shirts, Dockers, and a particular necktie pattern. (See Utah Code 53A-15-1101,1102,1103)

A local first grade teacher sent parents a list of “required” supplies prior to the start of the year. Board rule indicates supplies for elementary school students are to be provided; I expect there would be a certain social stigma if a student were to show up with nothing. The school later provided backpacks and some basic supplies for every student. Perhaps schools could be a bit clearer about what is required; perhaps this was simply a case of a teacher stretching the boundaries. I confess I didn’t look closely at the language of the letter because the list was very basic, and we had sufficient financial means.

Contributions may be solicited, but they must never be represented as mandatory, or presented with hint of reprisal for failure to pay. Fees at the middle/high school level must be subject to state fee-waiver provisions.

If you have complaints about your child’s school, please contact your local district office or the Utah State Office of Education.

By: James Larsen

James Larsen — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 01:08:50 +0000

I wonder how charter schools get around some fees. Many require uniforms. Some in my area have sent lists of supplies REQUIRED by students to have, something elementary schools cannot do. Also, I know of at least one that encouraged parents to contribute a certain amount of money per child per month to help offst costs–#20 a month or so (I thought they were supposed to be cheaper).