The Bruce Grey Catholic School Board is taking a long look at the fees it charges for certain learning materials, activities, and field trips.
It’s part of a larger consultation process that school boards must complete for the Ontario Ministry of Education.
The province is looking at all fees to deem what is appropriate to charge students for and what’s not.
Director of Education Bruce MacPherson says it’s a serious issue locally since the poverty rate is higher than other areas of Ontario.
The separate school board does have a policy in which the board will pay for a student’s field trip if families can’t afford it.
But MacPherson says many families are too proud to ask for help.
MacPherson admits in his experience — he has found times when students ‘act out’ on purpose to avoid a school trip.
MacPherson adds they will accept comments on the fee structure from parents, staff, school councils and students.
The deadline to submit the results to the Education Ministry is December 31st.
