Cost of student parking passes reduced

CLINTONVILLE – The Clintonville School Board has approved the reduction of the cost of a student parking pass for the 2026-27 school year from $40 to $20.
The cost reduction of a student parking pass was approved by the board by a voice vote at its July 13 meeting when the board approved the 2026-27 student fees for the district.
Leading off the student fees discussion, Clintonville Superintendent Troy Kuhn said that last year the district received a lot of complaints about the cost of parking passes for students. Because of that, Kuhn said the district was recommending that the board approve reducing the cost of student parking passes from $40 to $20 for the year, or $10 per semester.
In addition, Kuhn said the district was recommending that the board approve fines as part of student fees. The fines would be for damage to or replacement of Chromebooks or accessories, athletic equipment, combination locks, and lockers.
Board member Christopher Hoffmann asked for verification that for every dollar the district collects in student fees, that the district’s aid from the state of Wisconsin is reduced. Hoffmann was told that was accurate.

Kuhn said the district should be charging between $90,000 and $110,000 per year for student fees.
“With waivers, I want to say we collect between $45,000 and $50,000,” Kuhn said. “… So, we’re not talking major amounts of money.”
Board President Ben Huber said the district has reduced the cost of student fees “significantly” over the years. He added that the district continues to consider reducing student fees.
Board member Laurie Vollrath asked what amount of student fees go unpaid each year.
Kuhn said about half the student fees charged are unpaid by students.
“We were going to do collections, we were going to do all that, we were going to hire an agency, and it doesn’t pay,” Kuhn said. “So, basically, if they don’t pay their fees by their graduation date, the only thing we can deny them is participation in the (graduation) ceremony. Then, the majority of the time the fees get paid or we work out a payment plan with the family so they can participate in the ceremony and we collect it one way or another.”
Hoffmann asked if there are provisions for low-income families regarding student fees.
Kuhn said there are low-income provisions.
“It’s very clear during our student registration process of how to waive fees and that’s one of the things we got audited on during our food service,” Kuhn said.
Kuhn added that the district is unable to waive fees for college credit classes.
Hoffmann asked why the district still has a fee schedule for courses that it does not offer.
“Because there’s certain times that we offer them or an independent study, we need to have some type of a structure there if we do something like that,” Kuhn said.
Regarding parking passes, board member Jason Moder asked if both students and district staff are required to purchase parking passes.
Kuhn said district staff do not need to purchase parking passes.
“I just have a hard time charging taxpayers fees that already paid for the parking lots and the school,” Moder said.
With roughly 50% of student fees not paid, Hoffmann asked how it would be any different than if the district did not charge any fees because then the district would receive the same dollar amount in state funds.
Kuhn said there are schools who do not charge student fees.
He added that he recommended that the board approve the student fee changes as presented for the current school year. Then the board could reevaluate student fees for future school years.
“It’s kind of late in the game to adjust our budget for that,” Kuhn said. “Otherwise, I’d be looking at staffing and other stuff which I can’t change at this point.”
Board Vice President Kris Strauman asked how the budget would be impacted if student fees would be eliminated for such classes as food and art classes, where supplies for the classes can be expensive.
“It won’t be good (to the budget),” Kuhn said.
Kuhn added that it would be possible that the district would need to restrict the number of kids in those classes.