MARS — Mars Area school board members and officials discussed the usefulness of fees for high school elective courses at a finance meeting Tuesday night.

Business manager Debbie Brandstetter laid out the projected income from the non-refundable fees, which are attached to classes including art, manufacturing technology, graphic design, engineering, digital photography, robotics and creative cuisine.

“It brings in between $16,000 and $20,000 a year. So far this year, at Feb. 8, of the 301 students enrolled in full year or semester classes, only 45% of them have paid their fee until now,” she said. “Forty-nine percent haven’t paid, and 6% is free and reduced. For the second semester students who are just starting now, and there are 190 of those, 39% have paid, and 59% have not paid their fee yet, and 2% are free and reduced.”

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