BEVERLY — While their kids were in kindergarten, eight parents were learning a lesson of their own. In court.
Together, they racked up $7,385 in unpaid tuition fees, and with a new collection policy in place, the Beverly Public School District took the families to small claims court.
"It sounds heartless," Finance Director Joan Liporto said.
But the district was losing revenue in unpaid fees.
"At the end of 2008, we were out over $30,000," Liporto said. "That's almost a teacher."
While half-day kindergarten is free, full-day kindergarten costs $4,000 per child. About 200 kids are enrolled, and the program brings in about $513,000 a year. Nearly half of the students are on financial aid scholarships, but some people simply stopped paying.
So in November 2008, the School Committee implemented a few ways to collect fees from any program — not just kindergarten. Enforcement includes removing students from the programs, prohibiting the participation of siblings until the balance is resolved, prohibiting participation in senior week and graduation activities, and, ultimately, suing parents.
Superintendent James Hayes said that obviously every penny counts, but it's more about the principle.
"For us, it's about fairness," Hayes said. "If other people in one economic place are paying, people in the same economic place should be paying their bills."
If they can't, that's another story.
"If something happens in your life and you can't afford to pay us, pick up the phone and call us," he said. "But to flat-out ignore us? That's unacceptable."
Which is what the eight families discovered at the end of April in Salem District Court. Their delinquent balances ranged from $225 to $1,800.
"They came right in," Liporto said. "They were horrified."
Most paid on the spot, or negotiated a monthly payment plan.
"We try very hard to work out some kind of plan," she said. "We're really reasonable."
Hayes said Beverly is probably more aggressive in collecting fees than most school districts, but believes it's necessary.
"It certainly is having to go to the extreme to get people to pay their bills," Hayes said. "But after multiple warnings and still ignoring it, you have to take this severe action."
Staff writer Cate Lecuyer can be reached at clecuyer@salem news.com.
Collection cases
The School Department took eight families to small claims court to collect kindergarten tuition.
Amount owedResolution
$1,800monthly payment plan
$1,440monthly payment plan
$900applying for scholarship
$880monthly payment plan
$800dismissed, paid in full
$800dismissed, paid in full
$540dismissed, paid in full
$225collection pending
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