photo by: Journal-World

Lawrence Public Schools district offices pictured in April 2021.

The Lawrence school board will soon begin discussing whether to increase school fees or add an extra fee for computers and tablets.

The board will discuss school fees and a potential device fee as part of a work session on Monday. Currently, basic school fees for elementary students are $112 and those for middle and high school students are $162, with additional fees for any extracurricular activities.

A district staff memo to the board states that the district “has been charging the same amount in student fees for many years and does not currently charge a device fee.” The memo states that as part of the work session, staff will present information about the history of fees in the district and a comparison of the district’s fees to other districts. Those reports were not included in the board’s agenda packet as of Friday afternoon.

The Lawrence school board voted in 2016 to issue iPads to all middle school students and voted the following year to issue MacBooks to all high school students, as the Journal-World reported at the time.

According to information on the school district’s website, the district charges a “basic school fee,” and secondary students may also be charged additional fees for certain courses and activities, such as sports, band, debate and choir. The basic fee includes a $15 activity trip/transportation fee for field trips and a fee for books, materials, and technology which is $97 for elementary students and $147 for secondary students. The website states that the technology portion covers student use of computers and access to the internet.

Students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals are eligible to have certain fees waived. Fees eligible for waivers are basic fees, co-curricular fees, participation fees, course fees, instrument maintenance/rental fees, activity fees and cap and gown fees, according to the district website.

The memo states that the work session is in preparation for a proposal regarding fees for the 2022-23 school year that will be brought forward at a meeting in July.

In other business, the board will receive a report on the district’s Capital Outlay fund and its Capital Improvement Plan. The report will provide a review of the fund along with a summary of capital fund project budgeting, including a look forward at allocations over the next three fiscal years, through 2024-2025, according to a district memo.

The Lawrence school board will meet for its work session beginning at 5 p.m. Monday at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive. The board’s regular meeting will commence afterward.