Schools can request students pay for workbooks, school day field trips and lab fees, however they cannot require students to pay.
That is the latest clarification from the state Board of Education to be in line with the Tennessee Constitution and attorney general opinions.

The topic came up during Thursday night's Monroe County Board of Education meeting when board member Sonya Lynn questioned Director of Schools Mike Lowry if parents and students had been made aware of the latest clarification.

For years, many school systems across the state have operated under the belief that fees could only be waived for low income students who participated in the free and reduced lunch program.
However, Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) 49-2-110 ( c ) states: "The public schools shall be free to all persons above the age of 5."

The Tennessee Constitution states: "The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance, support and eligibility standards of free public schools."
The latest interpretation of state law says local school boards must authorize all requests for payment of school fees for workbooks, lab fees and field trips, but again stresses that payments cannot be required. Supply lists also may be requested, but not required.

"This will have a significant budgetary impact," the Tennessee School Boards Association said of the effect of the ruling on local school systems.
Lowry said that if schools are unable to raise enough money for field trips that occur during school hours, schools simply won't be able to go on them because field trips are not required as part of students' education.

Lowry said the county school system spends at least $500,000 on textbooks and supplies each year, but field trips are privileges that are generally not paid for out of the regular school system budget.
The cost to participate in extra curricular activities, including clubs, does not fall under the same guidelines and neither does parking fees for high school students.

If a student takes a band class for credit, an instrument fee can be requested but not required for a school-owned instrument.
Lynn and board member Dean Williams hammered away on whether everything was being done to let parents know about the fee policy.
"I don't want to have a bunch in here in the next two or three months telling us little Johnny is not getting to go to Huntsville," Williams said.

Lowry said the ruling had just been made in September and principals had been told about it.
In other business Thursday, the School Board approved Alice Mae Carter as a school bus driver based on the recommendation of Transportation Director Steve McSpadden.

Controversy had arisen last month over Carter being a bus driver when a parent said his son had told him he did not feel safe on the bus with Carter driving.
Based on an investigation working with the student's principal, Assistant Director of Schools Tim Blankenship and the school resource officer, McSpadden said Carter should be approved as a bus driver.

The principals from Sweetwater High, Rural Vale, Vonore Elementary and Madisonville Primary gave state-of-the-school reports.
Federal Programs Coordinator Mike Garren gave a presentation on the state Report Cards, which came out earlier this month.

Overall, county school system officials were pleased with the Report Cards, which showed strong improvement at the high school level among other areas.
In his director's report, Lowry said the school system will soon implement a new anonymous texting hotline at county middle schools and high schools.
Students will be able to discreetly notify officials about any safety concerns.
Lowry said the service will be free and the program is something Capt. David Kirkland, school resource officer learned about.

The Sweetwater City School System working with the Sweetwater Police Department plans to implement a similar texting hotline program.
Lowry paid tribute to school administrators and faculty and said classroom teaching is the most important thing the schools do.
The next regular board meeting is 7 p.m., Dec. 10.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101