Cedar Rapids school board approves school fees increase

School fees are set to rise for families in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. At Monday's regular meeting board members approved increasing the annual fees, which cover students' supplies and materials.

The price will rise $4 for high school students, $2 for middle school students and $1 for elementary students annually for the next three years, beginning with the 2013-14 school year. The rates, which district materials indicate have not increased since the 2003 fiscal year, are currently $79 for high schoolers, $46 for middle school learners and $24 for children in elementary school.

For students who qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches, fees will increase from $48 to $51 at the high-school level and $28 to $29 for middle-school students next year. Elementary rates will see no increase, remaining at $15 per student.

The rise was the lone revenue increase measure that administrators proposed earlier this month in an adjustment package designed to trim $4.43 million from the district's fiscal year 2014 general fund budget.