Student Fees?

As many of you know, last year we took on through policy and practice the issue of student fees and the legal requirement for education to be "free" {without fees}.  That was difficult and certainly stressed all of us as many around us choose not to take similar actions.  Therefore, we were often trying to compete and provide activities -- while others were charging for them through the use of student fees.

We changed our practice and policy based on a somewhat long-standing Hartzell vs. Connell, in 1984 and subsequent lawsuits.  I must say that our administrators, coaches, activity directors, band directors, etc. have all worked hard to maintain quality while struggling with our alignment with the law.  They have done well as our students have done well -- though it has not been easy.

Friday, the ACLU filed a class-action lawsuit in Los Angeles against the Governor and others for not holding school districts accountable for this situation.  In the suit, they named 32 school districts along with specifying the type of violations that were occurring.  Of the 35 mentioned statewide -- one was a Riverside county school district.

While no one knows how this will be resolved, it would seem obvious that they will find in favor of the ACLU -- and they are essentially requesting an immediate injunction against fees.  Therefore, the districts, schools, and programs would face a very difficult circumstance where they are immediately without fees and have no plan to cope with the issue.  Additionally, these schools and districts are likely to suffer further financial loss with court fees and penalties.