BARRHEAD-WESTLOCK-Pembina Hills trustees reviewed a set of refund guidelines during their April 8 meeting that outlines how parents who paid various school fees will get a portion of their money back following the province-wide cancellation of classes.
Secretary-treasurer Tracy Leigh said parents will be refunded 30 per cent of the fees they paid under AP 50-1, which deals with parents who choose to bus their children to a school other than their designated school. This fee is set at $450 (or $225 for Kindergarten students).
Parents who utilized in-town transportation within Barrhead, Westlock or Swan Hills will also get 30 per cent of their fees back. This fee is set at $350 (or $175 for Kindergarten students).
In the 2018-2019 school year, a total of 228 students accessed in-town transportation within the three communities, while 140 students accessed transportation to a requested school.
As well, the division will pay back 30 per cent of the fees paid out through the transportation agreement the division has with the Covenant Canadian Reformed School Society in Neerlandia.
Parents who enrolled their “typically-developing” children in early education will be refunded the fees they would have paid to have their children attend the nine-month program in April and May.
As well, any fees paid for students to take part in activities/field trips that did not occur will be refunded entirely. If a field trip or activity at least partially occurred, then the refund will be pro-rated to reflect that.
Any consumable items that were purchased and sold to students will not be refunded, but unused consumables may be returned for a pro-rated refund.
Finally, facility rentals will be refunded based on school facilities being unavailable after March 16, 2020.
When board chair Jennifer Tuininga asked how information about the refunds would be getting out to parents, Leigh indicated that will be done through individual schools.
Trustee Wendy Scinski then asked whether parents will have to request the refunds. Leigh responded that the refunds will be given automatically.
Kevin Berger, TownandCountryToday.com
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