Flemington-Raritan Schools approve Student Activity Fee

The Flemington-Raritan Board of Education at their July 27 meeting approved a resolution to pilot a Student Activity Fee for students
participating in all extra-curricular activities in grades 5-8 during the 2009-2010 school year. The plan will require students who wish to participate in any club, sport or activity to pay an annual fee of $50 per child or $100 max. per family. Students who pay this fee are permitted to participate in one or more programs during the school year.

The Board’s decision was a result of ongoing public discussions that have been held over the last two years. During the open budget work sessions held last spring the Board charged the administration to create the pilot program for implementation this Fall. The purpose of the pilot is to determine if a student activity fee would help to cover the contractual costs the district incurs for these activities. In fact, during the 2008-2009 school year, funding to support student activities totaled over $350,000.

Detailed information and notification will be mailed to Reading-Fleming and J.P. Case students in the next few days. To view the Board’s discussion and decision from the July 27 Board meeting, please visit the archived recording at: http://www.ustream.tv/frsdboe/videos. The video is titled July 27, Part 2.

The next Board of Education meeting will be held on Monday, August 24, at 7 p.m. in the RFIS auditorium.

Submitted by District Community Outreach Coordinator Laura Bruhn.