By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The price of nearly everything has gone up over the past year. Monday evening, the USD 428 Board of Education decided one thing would not be increasing: enrollment and lunch fees in Great Bend schools. Superintendent Khris Thexton explained why there have been no fee increases for several years.
"We figured out the actual number that paid versus didn't pay fees due to certain situations," he said. "That's why we kept them. We didn't want to punish those that are paying the fees by raising that cost."
Enrollment fees remain unchanged, ranging from $40 for pre-K and kindergarten students, to $95 for high school students. Lunch and breakfast fees also remain unchanged, ranging from $1.85 for a preschool lunch to $2.35 for high school students. Reduced lunch prices remain at $0.40, and milk remains at $0.50. Thexton has worked with Great Bend High School Activities Director Matt Westerhaus, and activity passes at GBHS and Great Bend Middle School will increase $5 to $30 for the year.
"As you can see, the only change we have on our fees for the 2023-24 school year are the high school and middle school activity passes," Thexton said. "Matt went and looked through there and had not seen a price increase in quite a few years."
Westerhaus and new GBMS Principal Myron Ellegood plan to use the additional dollars to offset some activities-related expenses. USD 428 enrollment is scheduled for Aug. 2-3.