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The 2005-2006 school year for North Branch students brings with it new activity fees. The North Branch School Board last week adopted a “cap” of $500 per year per family on the fee. This cap covers students in grades 7 through 12.

The Board at an earlier meeting increased the 2005-2006 fee structure in adopting budget adjustments for coming school year.

According to Becky Leuer, activities director, the range of fee maximums within the surrounding area is anywhere from $1,050 in Forest Lake per family to $400 for families in Cambridge Schools. Chisago Lakes does not have an annual per family fee cap, but for any individual his or her fourth (and subsequent ) activity and fine arts participation annually is free.

This $500 cap for North Branch includes all sports, activities and fine arts.

Leuer mentioned that it’s not just large families who will benefit with this cap in place. A two-student family with both kids in two sports and two fine arts could theoretically see annual fees over $500.

Leuer explained that the cap will require families to keep track. “They can say when they sign-up if they have reached the $500 and we’ll verify it,” Leuer explained. She added that a new system of receipts is also being implemented next year on recommendation of accounting.

The new fees next year are: middle school sports from $25 to $75, high school sports from $45 to a range of $100 to $175.

Tickets were also increased for high school sports from $3 and $2 to $6 and $4.

New volleyball coach

North Branch School Board also approved the hire of high school science teacher Kari Holmgren-Francis. She will also takeover as volleyball coach. Leuer said Francis played high school volleyball in Elk River and is coming off a four-year college volleyball scholarship. The new coach was going to meet the students this week.

And, in photo on this page, the girls’ basketball co-captains are shown, with coach Dan Schindler, accepting an award from the School Board last week for their terrific showing in the state tournament.

The North Branch girls were section 6AAA champs. Schindler was named coach of the year and will be inducted into the high school basketball hall of fame. Co-captains are Megan Stegmeir and Jenny Anderson.

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