To submit school announcements, click on image.
Members of the Haverhill School Committee generally agreed Thursday night the school department must raise fees it charges outside groups that rent out its facilities.
By how much, however, is proving to be a sticking point.
As WHAV previously reported, Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta is proposing to increase fees in order to balance her proposed $137 million budget. This year, the schools brought in just under $100,000. Marotta said she believes a modest fee increase could double the amount.
What is modest in Marotta’s eyes turned out to be more difficult for others to swallow. At-large member Toni A. Sapienza Donais said she is concerned programs would have to be cut if the extra $100,000 is not realized. Ward 5 member Jill Story called increasing the gymnasium rental fee from the current $50 an hour to Marotta’s proposed $125 an hour too big a jump. She said she fears such a steep increase would hurt local groups that count on using school spaces for their youth programs.
“The nonprofit rate, it like more than doubles. And just looking in Andover, it’s only $40 and in Haverhill we’re going to charge $125?” She asked.
School Chief Financial Officer Clancy Main presented a chart that compares Haverhill’s rates with six neighboring districts. Methuen, for example, charges $300 an hour for use of its gyms regardless of the renter’s tax status. Methuen also charges $800 an hour for auditorium use. Haverhill currently charges $50 an hour for both auditoriums and gyms. Pentucket Regional charges $75 an hour to nonprofits, plus 20% of the tuition charged for clinics and camps to rent its gyms and $100 to $150 to money making ventures. Amesbury charges $200 an hour for all users of its gyms.
Marotta suggests raising the gym fee to $125 an hour for nonprofits and $175 an hour, plus a 10% cut of tuition fees to profit making ventures, would place Haverhill’s user fees in the middle of the pack. She added preliminary discussions with several regular customers suggest the schools would not lose them to other communities. Some, she said, have even acknowledged Haverhill’s fees are low.
Because of some members’ unease, at-large member Josiah E. Morrow suggested tabling a vote to give the Committee more time to study. Marotta said putting off the fee hikes would delay the planned public hearing on her draft budget Thursday, May 28, because it would no longer be balanced. She suggested the Committee agree to raise user fees to bring in at least another $100,000 in the next fiscal year and then discuss the specifics at a future meeting. That motion passed 10-1 with Story voting no.
In other business, the Committee voted not to accept out-of-town students under the state’s School Choice program next year. Marotta noted the state pays only $5,000 per student for accepting out-of-district students, well under the district’s actual per pupil cost. She also said, despite an enrollment drop at the high school, most classrooms are filled.
The Committee also voted unanimously to change its social media policy to an opt out model. Going forward parents will have to file a form with the district if they do not want their child to appear in the school system’s media and advertising campaigns.