Introduction
The following information will outline the structure and components of school fees, the purpose of fees and the areas of the school’s operation in which these funds are applied, and the policy in relation to payment of fees and methods of payments.
Principles
- The school is committed to ensuring the fees, levies and charges are fair and equitable.
- The financial capacity of parents/guardians will not be the sole criteria for initial or continuing enrolment.
- School fees will be reviewed in the latter half of each year at the time of preparation of the following year’s school operating budget.
- The Budget is prepared by the Principal. A draft is produced and presented to the Parish Priest, the Parish Finance Committee and the School Board.
- During the course of the year, actual operating results are compared with original budget estimates on a quarterly basis. This quarterly review is presented to the School Board and to the Parish Finance Committee.
- The school reserves the right to withdraw enrolment or re-enrolment for a student when:
- fees are outstanding from a previous year arrears are outstanding from a previous year; or
- there is refusal to develop and comply with a sustainable payment plan.
Fee Generation
School fees are invoiced at the commencement of each term and are payable within 14 days of the date of the statement. As school fee statements may, from time to time be posted, it is important to ensure that the School Office is notified of any change of address.
Normally fee statements are distributed to the children to take home. Reminder Notices are normally posted within a month following the due date, and are directed to families who have outstanding fees with no accompanying alternate payment arrangements.
Please refer to the section on payment policy and payment method for further information.
Allocation of Tuition Fees
Tuition Fee & Levies – per child
Tuition fees and levies cover:
- the running costs of the school as well as educational costs eg rates, additional staff hours, all library and classroom resources and furniture, cleaning, library and all computer costs including maintaining the network, purchasing programs and computers;
- employment of “above schedule” staff (Music, School Officers, Physical Education, Clerical, Groundsman) and associated award superannuation and work cover charge, contract payments associated with fire protection, pest control and security services; insurances, electricity, audit fees and other professional costs, rates, cleaning supplies and telephones;
- maintenance of buildings and grounds, repairs to plant, equipment and furnishings and
- capital expenditure involving school and office furniture and fixtures, computers and other equipment.
Supplementary Fee – per child
These are costs that we pay on your behalf, for example books, classroom stationery, photocopying, art and craft materials, sport and cultural activities (eg. buses to sport) and all costs involved in participating in these activities, some excursions, swimming lessons, concerts, and many other activities.
Building Fund donation
This fund is used to assist with the loan repayments. The loans have been used to refurbish classrooms and other School buildings. The building fund is a voluntary contribution and is tax deductible.
Pay Fund and Futures Levies (AEL)
Payment of the Archdiocesan Education Levy to Brisbane Catholic Education. The School is invoiced on a quarterly basis, and while the levy constitutes a small percentage of overall income to Catholic Education, it is a major item of expenditure to be met by the School. Catholic Education Office recurrent expenditure includes school level staffing, various grants, central services, and other sundry costs.
Payment of Fees
If fees cannot be made by the specified due date, the School Principal should be informed as soon as possible. A proposal for repayment of the fees over the course of the term should also be made at this time.
In the event that two terms of fees are outstanding, and in the absence of any existing arrangements or advice, an interview will be arranged with the School Principal, and the family will be notified of the date and time.
Our Lady of the Assumption School already has in place a fee concession process and we will continue to provide assistance to families where needed. Any parents who have concerns about the fees should make an appointment to see the Principal.
Fees that are outstanding when a family leaves the school or when significant arrears have accumulated may, depending on circumstances, be handed to a Debt Collection Agency for recovery, which may involve the instigation of legal action.
Methods of Payment
School fees may be paid by cash, cheque, bank debit or credit card (Master Card and Visa Card). EFTPOS facilities are available at the School Office. Credit card payment may be made in person at the school office, by returning the fee remittance slip with relevant card details to the school office or by telephoning the school and providing the relevant card details.
A periodical payment authority [Direct Debit] can also be completed to have fees deducted from a bank account. This facility, lodged with the Archdiocesan Development Fund via the School Office, does not attract bank fees. Deductions can be made weekly, fortnightly, monthly or by term basis.
NOTE: Payment by cash should only be made in person and a receipt obtained at that time. Where circumstances exist to make it necessary, any claim that school fees were paid in cash must be supported by a school receipt.
Concessions
Any reduction in fees will be looked at in terms of the financial needs of the family concerned, and their responsibility to full-fee paying parents and the efforts these parents make in paying their fees.
Review
The School Fee Structure and Policy will be reviewed annually.