Policy 3520

The district will provide an educational program for the students as free of cost as possible. The superintendent or designee may approve the use of supplementary supplies or materials for which a charge is made to the student so long as the charge 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 money received by staff for supplies and materials.

The board delegates authority to the superintendent or designee to establish appropriate fees and procedures governing the collection of fees and to make annual reports to the board regarding fee schedules. Arrangements will be made for the waiver or reduction of fees for students whose families, because of their low income, would have difficulty paying the full fee. For programs governed by the National School Lunch Act, the USDA Child Nutrition Program guidelines will be used to determine qualification for waiver. The superintendent or designee will establish a procedure for notifying parents of the availability of fee waivers and reductions including eligibility information for free or reduced price meals.

A student will be responsible for the cost of replacing any property belonging to others that are lost or damaged due to the student’s negligence.

If any property of the district, a contractor of the district, an employee, or another student has been lost or willfully cut, defaced, or injured, with the damages exceeding $1,000, the district may withhold the diploma, but not the grades or transcripts, of the student responsible for the damage or loss for the earlier of either 5 years from the date of the student’s graduation or until the amount owed is less than $1,000. If the student and parent or guardian are unable to pay for the damages, the district shall provide a program of community service for the student in lieu of the payment of monetary damages. Community service completed must be credited at the applicable local or state minimum wage, whichever is greater. Upon completing community service that reduces the amount owed to less than $1000, the student’s diploma must be released.

The student or his/her parents or guardians will be notified regarding the nature of the charge for damages or fines, whether the diploma may be withheld, how restitution may be made, and how an appeal may be instituted. When the damages or fines do not exceed $100, the student or his/her parents or guardians will have the right to an informal conference with the principal. As is the case for appealing a short-term suspension, the principal’s decision may be appealed to the superintendent or designee and to the board of directors. When damages are in excess of $100, the appeal process for long-term suspension will apply.

 

Cross References:      

3241 – Student Discipline

2020 – Course Design, Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials

3115 – Students Experiencing Homelessness – Enrollment Rights and Services

3231 – Student Records

Legal References:

42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act          

AGO1966, No. 113  Fees — Tuition–Supplies — Authority of school districts to charge tuition fees or textbook fees

AGO 1973, No. 11 Tuition and Fees — Authority of school districts to charge various fees

RCW28A.225.330   Enrolling students from other districts- Requests for information and permanent records – Immunity from liability — Rules

RCW28A.320.230 Instructional materials — Instructional materials committee

RCW28A.330.100 Additional powers of board

RCW28A.635.060 Defacing or injuring school property — Liability of pupil, parent or guardian- withholding diplomas-Suspension and restitution – Community service program as alternative – publication of information on withheld diplomas – Student rights protected

RCW28A.220.040 Fiscal support — Reimbursement to school districts — Enrollment fees — Deposit

 

Management Resources:	2023 – July Issue 2021 – June Policy Issue 2019 – July Policy Issue
	2018 – May Policy Issue
	Policy News, June 1999 School Safety Bills Impact Policy

 

 

La Center School District

Adoption Date: March 27, 2007

Revised:  January 25, 2022, November 28, 2023