JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley School Board on Monday decided against a plan that would have saved the district more than $40,000 each year by imposing new fees on its students.

The plan would have charged students in certain classes course elective supply fees.

Matthew McKinley, assistant superintendent of secondary instruction, explained to the board that high school students who participate in engineering, technology, art or consumer science classes would have had to pay a fee of $25 per class for materials. The classes chosen were ones where students make something that they get to keep or take home, McKinley said.

A new digital photography class would have also been included with a $45 fee.

There would have been some exceptions and limits on the fees, which would have generated $40,000 to $48,000 per year in revenue, McKinley said.

Though the board did not take a vote, several members said they were opposed to implementing the fees.

Board member James Welsh said he disagreed with the concept.

“It just goes against my grain to charge the students for academic information that we’re putting out there, whether it be an elective or in the regular classroom,” he said.

Board member Fred Peterson said the fees could become problematic later.

“My concern that I’d like to express is that there is always a danger of unintended consequences and translation from the spirit today to the execution next year or the year after,” he said.

Board member Reid Moon asked if there would be a lack of equity with students paying the same fees for different classes.

McKinley said that they chose a flat fee to avoid pitting classes and teachers against one another.

The discussion of potential new fees came after an update on the district’s ongoing budget process from business manager Lynn Burtner.

The district is anticipating a budget shortfall of $4.6 million, though it plans to use $2.25 million from its fund balance to cover some one-time expenses, leaving a shortfall of $2.35 million, which would equal a property tax increase of about 4.21 mills, Burtner said.

Included in that budget is $1.2 million from the state for construction project reimbursement, called PlanCon.

However, there still is uncertainty about whether or not districts around the state will receive that money, Superintendent Tracy Vitale said.

“While Miss Burtner is being optimistic, I’m concerned, because this update hopes that we get the $1.2 million that was promised to us, and if not, we have to have another discussion,” she said.