Are HS Band Fees Illegal?

[290Piika]

There was an article in my local newspaper discussing the issue of outstanding band, guard, and other co- and extra-cirricular activities, as well as just school things in general (locks, PE clothes, etc. all require fees).

www.fresnobee.com/564/story/1615814.html

In short, some parents and lawyers may deem band fees illegal, as not all children are able to participate due to band fees and the sums are, well, outrageous. Students are threatened with not graduating, participating in events like prom, etc. if their fees are not paid (and yes, my director has stated this as well).

A quote from the article:
"The district has not yet seen the lawsuit, said Kelly Avants, district spokeswoman. But she said fees are only charged for "optional activities" outside of classes."

^ That line is entirely false. Band is an ACADEMIC CLASS at my school. We are REQUIRED to attend every football game, to participate in every competition, to go to every festival, to play in every concert, to go to every practice, to go to out-of-town trips that require charter buses (i.e. championships) or our grades are docked. These activities are not optional, like she says. While yes, the class is an elective and therefore optional, she says "out of classes", and band is a CLASS.

--

I do find these fees insanely outrageous, and I do believe our schools should help pay so that band fees aren't $400+ dollars (guard's worse, as are dance teams, cheerleading, etc.). However, without band fees, I don't believe the band programs would have enough funding for equipment and staff.

What are your opinions on this?

[Lee]

My school band publishes its budget every year. Our band runs on about a $50,000 budget. We really need it, but our band is not a class.

[fruple]

I agree, if it's a class, it should be illegal, just because that's basically saying you need to pay to get a good grade. If it was outside of class, like with lee and myself, it shouldn't be, but it is a lot of money. I know it's really hard for a band to work if you don't have to pay fees, but it's the price the school should pay by making those events mandatory.

That's my opinion, as right or wrong as it may be.

Edit: After reading the article, I just have to put in a few more comments. I leave what I said above unchanged, but I don't see the big deal with charging for like parking permits and bus passes. Those are a privilege, not a right. Here, busing is free if you're more than 2 miles away. If you live in the bubble that's within two miles and don't want to pay, freaking get up and walk. Jeebus, two miles isn't that far in the morning. Or make a friend and have them drive you and CARPOOL. It's not that hard. Ugh.

[290Piika]

Yeah, those parking permits and such are privileges. I was only considering more along the lines band/guard. Sports and cheerleading, etc are extra-cirricular while band/guard's co-cirricular.

I'm on the fence with our band fees. I don't like them, but it's hard to function without them. :\

[trumellotonium]

Band is a class at my school, but there's not more than a small rental fee if you use a school instrument for that. Marching band, however, is not required or even exclusive to our school (we have members from many area schools), and runs nearly $1,000 per member. However, even for that if it is too big a financial burden they offer some scholarships and payment plans, etc, and there's a lot of really effective fundraising we do.

For a class that requires marching, any payment that is required should be able to be appealed by a family that can't pay it and needs some financial assistance.

[290Piika]

Family can appeal to the directors for assistance.

The lawsuit is really getting bothersome though. Now every fee in the school is frozen for at least a week. We can't pay our band fees, no one can get a new ID card, no one can get new PE clothes, etc. It's really troublesome. :\ Yeah, okay, it's bad the school kinda hid some stuff, but come on, we have to get things paid for SOMEHOW. Otherwise everything's gonna go down the tubes if we're not allowed to pay fees and can only voluntarily donate. (Then no one would.)

The band/guard girl whose parents sued the school probably just didn't pay the fees on time. If they have enough money to get that good of a lawyer, they have plenty of money to pay band fees. Plus, there's a lot of volunteer opportunities in our area to benefit accounts.

[84bdsop]

Keep in mind that since Prop 13 passed in California -- back when I was in high school -- arts programs have been devastated...and they're always the first ones on the chopping block.

Thus, member participation fees might be the only way the band can even perform...schools may cover transportation costs to performances, but sometimes that's about it...and with no other source of funding, there's no chance for replacement of uniforms or instruments that saw better days before most of you guys were born.

If you join a group that clearly says there are fees involved, you are obligated to find some way to pay them....if it's for a school class, the school might very well be within it's rights to deny graduation or other punitive actions...it's called being responsible for activitied you take on.....welcome to the adult world.

Given the length of time fees have been part of the band system, I doubt a challenge would hold up in a court of law. You'd have to prove harm, and while not living up to your band responsibilities may get you a failing grade or not being allowed to graduate, no one forced you into the band in the first place.

[290Piika]

Despite whether or not the lawsuit will succeed, my jazz director said today we can't go to or even apply for festivals until it's taken care of. We don't have the money; he can't put everything on his credit card.

I agree with the "not forcing you to be in band" issue. And even if someone's family was less-fortunate, they'd be able to volunteer/fundraise to pay fees or talk to the director to get them paid for.

[bombermwc]

The basic answer is, in no way shape or form is a band fee illegal. No one requires you to take band, therefore it is extra-curricular. That means that they CAN charge. If you were required to be in band to graduate, then it would be a different story.

[hansel2011]

i pay a band fee each year. then there is another one for percussion. then seperate fees for marching but thats another story.

[290Piika]

It's not required to be in band to graduate here. You need two years of fine arts (either more graphic arts or performing) OR two years of foreign language.

Currently, I think the school district's still on the fence with the extra-cirricular activities, but we can buy PE clothes and IDs. Now even my elementary school sister has some idea what's going on because her BD mentioned a lack of money recently. :\