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From: S
Bushart
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 4:57 PM
Subject: Eanes Community Update #6
March
7, 2006
Dear
Eanes Friends,
Eanes
ISD is experiencing difficulty collecting the $250.00
student activity fee charged to middle and high school
families whose children participate in athletics, band,
cheerleading and dance. Public documents reflect
substantial outstanding balances. Members of our
community have repeatedly asked for clarification relating
to the exact amount of uncollected fees as the documents
Eanes has provided reflect balances ranging from $41,027.34
to $77,796.68. Eanes administrators have failed to
offer responses other than to provide the accounting
documents included in separate attachments to this update.
Yesterday, I sent the following letter to Susan Pulis, EISD
Assistant Superintendent-Business Services:
March 6, 2006
Dear
Ms. Pulis,
I
have recently become aware that there is a sizeable
outstanding balance reflecting past due student activity fee
collections.
As a
parent of a student who participated for three years in the
band program we were charged the yearly $250.00 student
activity fee and of course paid the bill. It is
concerning that so many have chosen not to pay these
charges. I am of course aware that there are some
families that have been afforded exemptions based on
financial need, and wonder if the current outstanding
balance of close to $80,000.00 reflects exemptions based
solely on those lacking the financial resources to pay.
As a
taxpayer and parent who has paid these fees when assessed I
would like you to answer the following the questions, so
that I may have a better understanding of why this balance
of uncollected fees exists.
1. What is the current Eanes ISD policy relating to the
purpose, assessment and collection of student activity fees?
2. What measures are taken to collect delinquent accounts?
3.
What are the consequences when fees are not paid or waived
and who is responsible for monitoring the unpaid charges?
For example, is it one of your job responsibilities as
Assistant Superintendent of Business and Accounting to
pursue these collections, or have you designated these
responsibilities to another Eanes ISD employee?
4.
What Eanes ISD account are the student activity payments
deposited into? For instance, are they deposited into the
199 general fund accounting code, the 865 student activity
accounting code, or some other account?
5. What specifically are these collected funds designated to
pay?
Thank you in advance for your attention to this inquiry. I
look forward to your response and remain hopeful that you
will choose to answer these questions presented informally,
as opposed to requiring that I request answers to these
legitimate and pertinent questions pursuant to the Texas
Information Act. A simple email response from your office
would be the most efficient use of time and negate
unnecessary expenditure of public funds.
Sincerely,
Susan Bushart
Any
response received to this inquiry, will be forwarded to
those receiving these community updates. Questions you
may have relating to the information provided in this update
can be directed to members of the Eanes ISD administrative
staff and/or our board of trustees. Their e-mail contact
information is:
Superintendent Nola Wellman
nwellman@eanes.k12.tx.us
Assistant Superintendent Business Affairs Susan Pulis
spulis@eanes.k12.tx.us
Board
of Trustees
trustees@eanes.k12.tx.us
Additional information related to student activity fees can
be found at:
http://www.keepeanesinformed.com/pdf/student%20activity%20fee.pdf
Wishing all the best for our students, our parents, our
teachers and our taxpayers,
Susan
Bushart
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