Student Fees and Fines - 3520
Within the concept of free public education, whereby all children are required to attend school, the district shall provide an educational program for the students as free of costs as possible.
The Board delegates authority to the Superintendent to establish appropriate fees and procedures governing the collection of fees. Fees will be equitable across schools for the same or similar courses, programs and activities. The Superintendent/designee shall report to the Board in May of each year the student fees for the following school year. Arrangements shall be made for the waiver or reduction of fees for students whose families, by reason of their low income, would have difficulty paying the full fee.
The Superintendent may approve the use of supplementary supplies or materials for which a fee is charged to the student so long as the fee does not exceed the cost of the supplies or materials, students are free to purchase them elsewhere, or provide reasonable alternatives, and a proper accounting is made of all moneys received by staff for the supplies and materials.
I. CONSEQUENCES FOR LOSING, DEFACING, OR INJURING DISTRICT PROPERTY
A. GRADES, DIPLOMA, and TRANSCRIPTS
If a student loses or willfully cuts, defaces, or injures any property of the district, a contractor of the district, an employee, or another student, the district may withhold the grades, diploma, and transcripts of the student responsible for the damage or loss until the student or the student’s parent/guardian has paid for the damages. The parent/guardian of such pupil shall be liable for damages as otherwise provided by law.
B. SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION
Additionally, any student who defaces or otherwise injures any district property, or property belonging to a district contractor, employee, or another student, is subject to suspension or expulsion. The school will determine whether short-term suspension, long-term suspension, or expulsion is warranted based on the provisions of chapter 392-400 WAC. Students will be afforded due process rights, depending on the type of corrective action imposed, as outlined in chapter 392-400 WAC.
If the property damaged is a school bus owned and operated by or contracted to the district, a student suspended for the damage may not be permitted to enter or ride any school bus until the student or parent or legal guardian has made payment in full or until directed by the Superintendent.
C. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS FOR STUDENT TRANSFERS
If a student has transferred to another school district that has requested the student’s records, but that student has outstanding fines owing for lost or damaged district property, the school will not send the student’s official transcript to the enrolling school until the outstanding fines are paid. Schools shall notify the enrolling school that the official transcript is being withheld due to an unpaid fine assessed for the loss or damage of district property.
Schools shall send to the enrolling school records pertaining to the student’s academic performance, special placement, immunization history and disciplinary actions.
II. ADDITIONAL CONSEQUENCES FOR OUTSTANDING FINES OR FEES
A. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Failure to pay fines or fees shall be a violation of school rules meriting discipline. Schools may exclude students from participation in athletics or other extracurricular activities (such as dances, etc.) for such violations. A student or parent/guardian may grieve the fine assessed and the imposition of discipline in the same manner as described in the section below, regarding withholding of grades, diploma, and transcripts.
Schools shall annually notify students and parents of those activities in which participation may be denied to those students who owe fines or fees.
Grievance of Fines or Fees
When the student or parent/guardian are unable to pay for the damages, the district shall provide a program of voluntary work for the student in lieu of the payment of monetary damages. Upon completion of voluntary work the grades, diploma, and transcripts of the student shall be released.
The student and parent/guardian shall be notified regarding the nature of the violation or damages, how restitution may be made, and how a student or parent/guardian may grieve the damages assessed. The student and/or parent/guardian shall have the right to an informal grievance meeting with the principal to discuss the damages to be assessed. The student and/or parent/guardian will present, at that time, any extenuating circumstances that may affect the restitution.
After this school-level grievance meeting, if the issue is not resolved, the student or parent/guardian, upon giving two school business days’ prior notice to the Superintendent’s office, shall have the right to present a written and/or oral grievance to the Superintendent or designee.
If the issue is not resolved at this level, the student or parent, upon giving two school business days’ prior notice to the Superintendent’s office, shall have the right to present a written and/or oral grievance to the Board of Directors during the Board’s next regular meeting. The Board shall notify the student and parent/guardian of its response to the grievance within ten school business days after the date of the meeting.
Legal Reference:
AGO 1965-66, #113 Fees-Tuition-Supplies
AGO 1973, No. 11 Tuition & Fees
RCW 28A.220.040 Fiscal Support
RCW 28A.225.160 Qualification for admission
RCW 28A.225.210 Admission of district pupils
RCW 28A.225.220 Adults, children from other districts
RCW 28A.225.330 Enrolling students from other districts; Withheld transcripts
RCW 28A.320.230 (f) Instructional Materials
RCW 28A.325.010 Fees for extra-Curricular events
RCW 28A.330.100 Additional powersOf the Board
RCW 28A.635.060 Fines and fees
RCW 28A.87.120 Due process
Adoption Date: 9/28/04