Fees for textbooks, activity tickets and meals will be increasing at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn. The 2020-21 fee structure was approved by the school board on Monday.

It is only the second time since 2013-14 that H-M-S has increased student fees two consecutive years. According to Superintendent Patrick Carlin, previous board discussion indicated a desire to increase fees yearly rather than to do so every three or four years.

Textbook fees will range from $50 for PK-K to $90 for grades 9-12. The family maximum will be $240, which is an increase of $15 from last year's rate.

Instrument rentals will be raised $5, as will the price of student activity tickets.

Nutrition costs will increase by 10 cents per meal, as will the charges for extra milk and tutoring snacks. Lunch costs will be $2.70 for PK-4 students, $2.80 for grades 5-12 and $3.85 for adults. Breakfasts are $1.30 for all age levels. Morning milk for PK-1 students will increase $7.50, or $2.50 per trimester.

Carlin said the increase in meal prices is necessary in order for H-M-S to be in compliance with federal nutrition program guidelines.

• Bids, break/fix policy

Casey's Bakery was awarded the contract to provide bread products to the district next year while Dean Foods will be the milk supplier.

Bids were solicited from two firms for bread and milk products. In both instances the second bidders indicated they could not service the district.

Renewal of the equipment maintenance insurance (break/fix) policy was approved. The proposal from SU Insurance Company calls for an annual premium of $68,570. The policy covers a wide range of items, including electronic, computer, office and facilities equipment. Carlin said the program is a benefit to H-M-S because the premium is paid from the management fund while claims return to the general fund.

The resignation of Jennifer Dykstra as an elementary associate was accepted and a contract for an open cook position was offered to Melissa Gallardo.

• Graduation, handbooks

H-M-S still plans to hold a graduation ceremony on Sunday, July 12. According to discussion, the event will be held in the high school gym with bleacher seating on both sides being utilized so those attending can distance themselves. Graduates may invite immediate family and grandparents to attend.

"There should be plenty of room in there and it should be pretty much a regular ceremony," said Principal Nate Hemiller.

Board members reviewed the proposed elementary and high school handbooks for 2020-21. Few major changes were included, but board members did discuss the proposed pandemic language in the elementary handbook. A majority felt the language was too specific and voted to remove it from the final draft.

• Summer school

SENTINEL-NEWS FILE PHOTO

Instrument rentals will be raised $5, as will the price of student activity tickets.

Identified kindergarten and first grade students will be participating in sessions that will focus on literacy. They begin in July and continue through the first week of August.

Algebra will again be offered at the middle school. The process for determining which students will be eligible to take algebra is similar to that used in the past.

Updates to the high school curriculum and textbooks are continuing. Hemiller said that new books for the English department have been purchased and staff is working on updating social studies textbooks.