District 106 considers hiring collection agency for fees

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Updated: February 27, 2012 8:10AM

The LaGrange Highlands Elementary District 106 Board is considering hiring a collection agencies to go after families not paying school fees.

District Director of Operations Susan Birkenmaier told board members Jan. 17 the number of fees owed to the school is growing, and recommended considering collection agencies as a last resort for dealing with uncooperative families. She reported a loss to the district of between $1,000 and $2,500 each year due to unpaid fees.

“We’re in some unprecedented area where we’d like to suggest that on a case-by-case basis we look forward to moving the collections onto a collections agency,” Birkenmaier said.

Historically the school has not been required to resort to such measures, but with the families falling further behind on payments, Birkenmaier said working with collection agencies would be a solution.

Some families have gone years without paying their dues, owing as much as $750 to the district, said Birkenmaier. Having followed the district’s protocol of contacting the families who have outstanding charges, there is nothing further the district can do to resolve the problem.

The district has received information from collections agencies willing to work with school administration. The expenses to the district would likely be based on the sum of money sought for collection, according to Birkenmaier. Initial costs are unknown at this point.

Birkenmaier cited the district’s program to waive fees for the economically disadvantaged, but added household income may have little to do with whether a family will cooperate with the schools.

In Illinois, families that meet the federal income guidelines are eligible to have the cost of books, instructional materials and various other fees waived, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. Birkenmaier said the district has been willing to work with families that do not meet criteria in order to arrange a payment schedule to meet their needs.

The board reached a consensus in favor negotiating with collection agencies on the condition the district make numerous attempts to resolve the problem beforehand and only in cases in which a substantial sum of money is owed to the district.

This article was updated Jan. 19 to correct the range of unpaid fees in a given year.