Questions about activity fees, student-funded field trips and exactly where money was being allocated were all topics of conversation at the Exeter School District's first community forum of the school year.
Members of the administration and school board answered questions and heard concerns and accolades from parents and community members at Reiffton School on Monday night.
The district first presented its latest AP and PSSA scores, which were all up from last year. It also laid out budget challenges raised in rising pension and retirement costs.
The administration fielded questions about property tax increases, the rise in special education costs and the size of the gifted program. But many questions addressed changes in last year's budget, many of which were cost saving measures.
Parent Bill Snelling questioned the $60 activity fee. He said he paid the fee for his son in the high school, but paid $40 for band equipment and $15 for National Honor Society dues.
"Basically, I just want to know what I'm paying for with my $60," Snelling said.
Board president Robert Quinter said the fee is to support extracurricular activities without putting an extra burden on taxpayers who don't have children in the district.
Business manager Ann Guydish added that the fee generally offsets the cost of the advisor. She said so far the fee has raised about $30,000, though the cost of all extracurriculars is around $1.3 million. The fee does not go toward football or band, the most expensive extracurricular activities in Exeter.
Parent Michelle Ward asked the board if the annual trip to Washington for middle school students would still happen now that non-educational field trips are student-funded.
"It's not a question of being student-funded," said Dr. Beverly Martin, superintendent. "We're looking at changes to the structure of the trip, and we're meeting with parents and teachers to get feedback."
Ward added that she hopes it doesn't mean there will be fewer field trips, since they're memorable for students.
Allocation of funds was raised Joe O'Hara, who wanted to know why there is smaller staff for the gifted program, but so many resources put towards extracurriculars such as the music program.
"To me, my kids should be pushed educationally and not be singing in chorus three times a week," O'Hara said. "The superfluous activities should take the budget hit, not education."
Martin said no educational programs were cut for the current school year. She added the music program educates all students while the gifted program has a smaller number of students.
"For every parent who advocates one program, you'll have another advocating a different one," Martin said. "But we were able to keep all our programs, even with less money and staff."
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