Recently, District 95 has put new fees in place for many clubs and activities that are classified as non service based organizations. There have also been new transportation fees for any clubs or activities that require bus service during the school year. Parents are also now required to register their students for clubs and activities, rather than students simply attending them.
These new transportation fees will charge students $80 per person for club and activity bus service. Many clubs and activities that were formerly free of charge for students to attend will now have a $25 – $50 club fee just to attend.
Rose Belden, junior, is actively involved with Bear Strings, Tri-M Honors Music Society, and Medical Sciences Club. She is looking forward to the upcoming Orchestra trip to Rome. She discussed that her Clubs meet on a regular basis and have varying numbers of members from as little as 15 to around 90 or more students.
“Tri-M meets once a month, medical science meets on the first and third Fridays of every month and Bear strings meets every Thursday.” Belden said. “Bear strings has about I’d say 15 to 20 kids. Medical science is like a full classroom. So I’d say like 25, to 30 and triumph has probably 90 or more members.”
She mentioned that one of her clubs, Bear Strings, needs bus service for a tour to the Elementary Schools. This would require all members of Bear Strings to pay the $80 transportation fee despite not using bus service regularly. She also discussed the new classification system that determines the fees for clubs and activities.
“I do know that clubs that are not service organizations have to pay $50 for their regular fee, but clubs that are service organizations like NHS Tri-M, etc, have to pay a $25 reduced fee, or the normal fee before the raise.” Belden said.
She mentioned that the new fees and the classification system can cause some issues for students who may not want to or may not be able to pay the $25 or $50 fees for clubs and activities.
“I feel that some students might not be able to pay $50 for such a short amount of time where they meet.” Belden said. “But also, if the student feels they don’t want to commit to the club or activity anymore, I don’t know how they’re going to get that feedback, or even if they can.”
She mentioned that she is not considering leaving any of her clubs because of the new fees because her clubs are a place to find belonging and camaraderie between other students with the same interests as her.
These new fees could be an issue for students, as not everyone is willing to pay them or is able to pay them for clubs that may only meet a few times a year. Many students may also face issues due to parents having to register them for clubs and activities. Especially if their parents do not approve of their clubs and activities.
“Well, like I said before, I think [there may be] payment barriers because some students rely on free food from the government.” Belden said. “They might not have that much money set aside to pay for the clubs they might just be able to pay for, like, necessities.”
