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

10 EXHIBIT PAGES FOLLOW: