Story posted Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Credit Card Fee Setup Approved By Board
Glenbrook High School Dist. 225 board members approved credit card user fees at their meeting Monday, Mar. 8.
A $2.50 credit card user fee was imposed by the administration at the start of this semester without the approval of the school board. Last Monday the fees were approved retroactively but there will be some small changes next year.
Board members were informed about the fees at their meeting in late February and sought legal advice before taking action this week, concerned that since the fees were imposed without board approval the district might have to return the money.
In a memo to board members district lawyers said that though it is the board's practice to approve new fees before they are imposed, the board's approval for the credit card fees was not legally needed and said the fees could be approved retroactively.
Quest, the company that runs the district's cafeterias, has an agreement with Dist. 225 that the district will cover the cost of fees imposed by the credit card companies in exchange for lost revenue in the free and reduced lunch program.
Next year Quest will take over paying that fee and will pass on a $1.95 credit card convenience fee to customers. Quest will still cover the costs of free and reduced lunches for needy students.
Additionally a $2.50 transaction fee would be charged for transportation payments, bursar's office payments and registrations for summer camp and summer school.
A mechanism to eliminate the cost to the district for tickets to school variety shows and musicals is being developed.
Administration officials said fees charged by credit card companies to process purchases cost the district $80,000 in fiscal year 2009 and are expected to cost $86,000 in fiscal year 2010.
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