Schools

Board of Education Establishes Activities Fee

Students required to pay a $100 fee to participate in extracurricular activities.

The Montville Township Board of Education has enacted a $100 activities fee for students of Montville Township High School and Robert R. Lazar Middle School as a means to restore some extracurricular activities in the two school that were earlier eliminated due to budget issues.

Though the board had sent letters to parents of children in the two school alerting them to the fee, Board President Dr. Karen Cortellino discussed the fee at district's meeting on Aug. 31, saying that it was not an idea situation but that the money would help students.

"[The fee] has produced a way to bring many eliminated programs back to the schools," she said.

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According to Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried, this fee, which applies to all students attending both schools, is a first for the district. He said that all students are required to pay the fee or withhold from participating in extracurricular activities.

"If you do not pay the fee, you may not participate," he said. "No one will be reprimanded if they choose not to pay. Many parents have already chosen to pay the fee. Some parents have expressed concerns and have called our business administrator, James Tevis, to express their thoughts. He has spoken to them to further explain the situation."

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According to a document released by the Board of Education, the board has been able to reactivate 18 extracurricular activities at Lazar Middle School, including student council, basketball, a fall play and a music program.

The next board of education meeting is scheduled for Sept. 21.


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