SD 210 adjusts summer school, ‘zero hour’ fees

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Updated: March 13, 2012 10:34AM

In an effort to boost revenue and enrollment, the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 board raised the cost of summer school tuition and reduced the cost of “zero hour” classes.

Fees for both now will be the same — $350 for a full-credit class, and $175 per half-credit class.

“We hope this will help increase enrollment for zero hour,” District 210 spokeswoman Stacy Holland said.

“Zero hour” classes are held before the start of the regular school day and are popular with students who want extra elective classes. The district made “zero hour” a tuition-based program before the 2010-11 school year, charging $500 for one credit. Summer school fees were $320 for one credit, or $160 for a half credit, Holland said.

The optional transportation fee for summer school remains $60. There is no transportation fee for zero hour.

The new rates go into effect this summer.

District 210 broadened its summer school programs to appeal to more students. Enrollment among the four high schools for summer classes increased from 1,151 in 2009 to 1,635 in 2011, Holland said.

Enrollment numbers for “zero hour” classes were not available, Holland said.

Raising registration fees and charging a $100 participation fee for extracurricular activities also were discussed in a recent work session, but no decisions have been made on those fees.

In Thursday’s meeting, the board also discussed a policy change to make fine arts and career and technical education classes electives instead of required courses.

Currently, students must have 20 credits in required classes and two in electives to graduate. If the policy is approved at the Feb. 23 board meeting, 18 credits in required classes and four in electives would be needed for graduation, keeping the total at 22. The change would give students more elective choices, Holland said.

The board also honored its valedictorians and salutatorians. Valedictorians are Kaleigh Barrett (Lincoln-Way Central), Xue (Shirley) Zhan (East), Raymond Michuda (North) and Eric Staniszewski (West). Salutatorians are Isaac Carrasquillo (Central), Jessica Meaux (East), Nileema Patel (North), and Cassandra Kirkland (West).