Valley View Renews Contract to go After Delinquent Parents

Valley View School District officials don't expect the state to make good on past-due funding anytime soon.

But with a projected $9.77 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2011, the district is taking steps to get parents to pay up on student fees.

The district's board voted Tuesday at its regularly scheduled meeting to pay a collections agency $77,500 to go after unpaid fees.

Board members agreed to renew the district's contract with Transworld Systems at a cost of $7.75 per account, with the collections agency agreeing to pursue a total of 10,000 delinquent accounts.

Assistant Superintendent Gary Grizaffi said Transworld has collected more than $288,000 in unpaid student fees for the district since 2006. During the last four years, Valley View has paid the company $101,203 to pursue those overdue accounts.

"It's been a good deal, it really has," Grizaffi said.

Each year at registration, parents are required to pay book fees and registration fees.

For elementary school students, the total is $40 per student; middle school student fees are $50 per student.

Parents of high schoolers must also pay a student ID fee and class fee, for grand total of $150 per student.

That doesn't include fees charged for optional activities including sports, band or extra-curricular programs.

This year's unpaid fees are at an all-time high, with nearly $500,000 owed by a total of 4,840 students.

Grizaffi said the situation will likely get worse.

"This is typically a high point," he said. "As the year progresses, (the amount owed) will increase."

At this time last year, the amount of outstanding fees totaled $302,349.

Before a family is sent to collections, Grizaffi said the school sends several letters home reminding parents that fees are past due.

"This is kind of the last resort after the school makes three attempts to contact (the family) directly," he said.