Tuition Handbook

St. John Catholic School

314 3rd St. NE

Independence, IA 50644
fax: (319) 334-9088 Phone: 319-334-7173

email:

website:

St. John’s Catholic School ~ Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service

St. JohnCatholic School

Tuition for 2016-2017

St. John Catholic Church Members:

$1550 per child

Out of Parish:

Cluster parish (St. Patrick’s): $1550 per child

Non-cluster parish (Oelwein): $2850

Non-Catholic Students:

$2,850 per child

The estimated total budget expenses for St. John School for the 2016-2017 school year will be $782,593.40. The tuition from SJS students will bring in about $350,740for next year. Tuition covers about 45% of the costs to run the school. St. John Parish will subsidize school operation with just over $339,500 for next year. The St. John Board of Education continues to attempt to keep tuition reasonable so that local students can receive a quality Catholic education. In comparison, the average tuition for all elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Dubuque for 2015-2016 was over $2000.

Educational Covenant

“Since parents have conferred life on their children, they have a most solemn obligation to educate their offspring. Hence, parents must be acknowledged as the first and foremost educators of their children. The Church reminds parents of the serious duty which is theirs of taking every opportunity - or of making the opportunity - for their children to be able to enjoy these helps and to pace their development as Christians with their growth as citizens of the world.” (Declaration of Christian Education)

“Parents are the first and foremost catechists of their children. They catechize informally but powerfully by example and instruction. They communicate values and attitudes by showing love for Christ and His Church and for each other, by reverently receiving the Eucharist and living in its spirit, and by fostering justice and love in all their relationships. Their active involvement in the parish, their readiness to seek opportunities to serve others, and their practice of frequent and spontaneous prayer, all make meaningful their professions of belief. Parents nurture faith in their children by showing them the richness and beauty of lived faith. Parents should frequently be reminded of their obligation to see to it that their children participate in catechetical programs sponsored by the Church.” (Sharing the Light of Faith #212)

Parent/Guardian Covenant

Recognizing our most solemn obligation to educate our children in the ways of the faith, we hereby enter into this covenant with the St. John Catholic SchoolBoard of Education, administration and staff of the St. John Catholic School, to work cooperatively in providing for a quality program of faith formation for our children.

We agree to:

•Provide good example for our children

•Communicate Christian values and attitudes

•Provide opportunities to share in the sacramental life of the Church with our children

•Provide for prayer opportunities for our children

•Ensure the regular attendance of our child(ren) at class

•Understand and accept the regulations set forth in the parent/student handbook

•Volunteer my time at least once during each semester for special projects

•Complete my financial obligations to St. John Catholic Schoolas set forth on the response

page

Parent/Guardian Signature:______

Principal: ______

Date:______

Financial Obligation Response Page

St. John Catholic School

The following form reflects the financial portion of the covenant between St. John Catholic School and your family. We ask that you read it carefully, choose the method of payment that is most comfortable and sign the form. This payment plan was approved by the St. John Catholic School Board of Education.

Tuition for 2016-2017 school year

St. John Parish members: Each Child: $1550 per child

Catholic, cluster parish (St. Patrick’s):Each Child: $1550 per child

Catholic, Non-cluster parish:Each Child: $2850 per child

Non-Catholic Students:Each Child: $2850 per child

Please check one of the following and return at the time of registration. Please Note: Items #2-4 are to be done with an electronic fund transfer.

1. Annual payment due on August 1, 2016

2. Semester payments due: August 1, 2016 and January 5, 2017 (two payments).

PLEASE COMPLETE electronic fund transfer FORM,

3. Quarterly payments due: August 1, 2016, November 1, 2016, February 1, 2017, and May

1, 2017 (four payments). PLEASE COMPLETE electronic fund transfer FORM.

4. Monthly payments due: August 1, 2016, the 15th of the month from September

2016 to May, 2017. (ten payments). PLEASE COMPLETE electronic fund transfer FORM.

5. Payment plan to be specified at registration and signed off on by the administrator.

______

Your financial payment will be held confidential and if payments are late, you will be contacted. Please call the principal if there is a financial problem. No student will be denied a Catholic education at St. John Catholic School because of financial hardships.

I, the undersigned, understand and accept my financial obligations to St. John Catholic School.

Parent/Guardian Signature: ______

Principal: ______

Date:______

St. John Catholic School Board of Education Policy On Delinquent Accounts

The St. JohnCatholic School Board of Education adopts this policy as a guide to be used by future Boards and school administration in determination and collection of delinquent accounts.

I. Definitions

  • Delinquent Account : An account is delinquent when any payment is not made within 30 days of the time such payment is due.
  • Contract : Contract refers to the tuition contract signed by the parents/guardian and /or student(s), and any amendments thereto.
  • Finance Committee : The Finance Committee is a standing committee composed of Board of Education and non-board members, serving at the request of the Board.
  • Administration : The Administration is the administrative personnel of St. John Catholic School.

II. Delinquent Contracts For St. John Catholic School Students

A. All St. John Catholic School Students will be registered and attend the school pursuant to a tuition contract which is to be signed by at least one parent or guardian of the student, and, if applicable, the student.

B. Changes in payment schedules on tuition contracts may be made by the school business office and the parent, guardian or student at any time, but only written modifications shall be effective and binding on the parties. All changes are subject to approval by the Board. The Board delegates its approval authority to the Finance Committee.

C. When any account is delinquent 30 days, the parents/guardian(s) will be advised of said delinquency, in writing, by the school principal. This can be any simple form of notice, such as a letter, email or phone call, bringing the delinquency to the attention of the appropriate parties and requesting that the delinquency be corrected or arrangements made with respect to that delinquency.

D. When an account is delinquent 60 days and no arrangements have been made on that account, the parent/guardian(s) will be contacted by certified letter regarding the need to become current with account; payment plan will require the use of the electronic fund transfer option if not already doing so.

E.All accounts must be paid in full before the parents can register their child(ren) for the following school year.

F. If the student is not expected to be enrolled at St. John Catholic School in the fall, or the student has graduated from St. John Catholic School, and has a delinquent tuition balance, a certified letter shall be sent to the parents/guardian(s). If the debt is not collected within 30 days, or acceptable payment arrangements are made, the account will be sent to collections. [1]

III.Enforcement of Judgment

The St. John Catholic School Board of Education shall annually review those accounts on which it holds judgment, to determine what steps, if any, should be implemented to enforce collection of the judgment. Further steps that are taken will be at the discretion of the St. John Catholic School Board of Education.

IV.Delinquent Accounts Policy

It is the intention of the St. John Catholic School Board of Education that this policy be enforced in a fair, evenhanded and sensitive fashion, that, as much as possible, each factual situation be viewed upon its own circumstance; and that any form of favoritism or unfairly harsh treatment with respect to any person or parties be avoided; but, rather, that the matter be applied in an evenhanded fashion.No child is to be expelled from school during the course of a semester because of parental inability or unwillingness to pay tuition or fees.

V.Grades/Records

Parents/guardians have an absolute right of access to any and all pupil records related to their children. Consequently, in no case shall the withholding of report cards or other records be used for the enforcement of collection. Schools may not withhold the release of student records/transcripts at the time a student transfers to another school if a request has been received from the receiving school at the parents/guardians request. (cf. 1 D.P.I. Dec. Rule. 107, April 28, 1986)

Updated February 9, 2016