CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Families in a west suburban school district will be getting refunds for last year’s student fees that went unused due to the COVID-19 pandemic shifting classes online.
The Naperville District 203 school board decided this week to give credits to families who paid for student fees last year. The fees were never used because students were in remote learning from the month of March on.
“I think it’s fantastic,” board member Paul Leong said. “This tells our taxpayers that we know we are charging them a lot and (we) don’t feel the need to double dip on them.”
The fees, which total $1.1 million, will be refunded as credits towards this year’s fees, and are based on the grade in which a student is enrolled. They can range from $34 for preschool and half-day kindergarten students to $81 for high schoolers.
"Our families have undertaken expenses like child care. They have done learning spaces at home. There’s been a variety of different expenses that have been a part of this year that aren’t normally," said Board President Kristin Fitzgerald.
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Last month, the District 203 board opted to give property tax refunds, because of a $10 million surplus.
While the fees only benefit people with children in D203 schools, the tax reimbursement will go to anyone who paid property taxes to fund district schools.
District officials said the owner of a $400,000 home can expect to receive a check for about $270 as a result of the reimbursement.