Increasing activity fees and how to fund a long-term plan for Unionville-Chadds Ford School District buildings are under consideration by school board members.

The board is considering raising activity fees and members were told by Business Manager Robert Cochran during the March 10 work session that the district could bring in an additional $30,000 by doing so.

The multi-tiered fee schedule is now $10/$25/$50/$75, but could jump to $25/$50/$75/$100 for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Some board members seem to be more in favor of the increase. Keith Knauss said he’d like to see activity fees cover up to 50 percent of the student cost while Jeff Hellrung said covering 10 percent to 15 percent of the cost is proper.

Current fees cover a range of 5 percent to 13 percent of participant cost depending on the activity. The change, if enacted, would change that range to 9 to 17 percent.

Kathy Do called for a cap on what a family would have to pay if they have several students who are involved in multiple clubs or team sports. There is currently a cap of $250 per student.

A chart reflecting the proposed change in fees can be found here.

Also in the discussion about finances, Cochran spoke again about the financing options for the district’s proposed 10-year capital plan.

As mentioned in November, that plan covers a broad range of projects for the schools in the hope of avoiding a major renovation project. While each of the districts six school buildings will require work during that 10-year period, the major focus would be on Hillendale Elementary School and CF Patton Middle School.

Four options are on the table. One is a pay as you go option, which could be the most costly according to Cochran. There are also two bond options, one to put up for bond each phase of the project as it arise and the other would be to get a loan upfront for the entire project.

The fourth option would be to limit the scope of the project.

In November, Director of Buildings and Grounds Rick Hostetler said the total work could cost $17 million to $21 million. He also said that Patton and Hillendale have gone the longest without any type of renovation or construction project.

Costs for the 10-year plan could be spread out over a 10- to 20-year period. Doing so would keep possible tax increases within the state’s Act I limits and prevent the need for a referendum.

A copy of the presentation can be found here.