~parents outraged. ~
PHILIPSBURG: --- Parents of students attending the Learning Unlimited School would have to dig much deeper in their pockets for the 2019-2020 school year.
LU sent out an email to all parents just recently informing them of the increase in school fees for the upcoming school year.
Below are the new and increased school fees:
Toddler Academy - $8,250 Annual Fee - $750 per month, payable for 11 months
Preschool - $6,950 Annual Fee - $695 per month, payable for 10 months
Pre-Kindergarten - $8,150 Annual Fee - $815 per month, payable for 10 months
Kindergarten - $10,150 Annual Fee - $1,015 per month, payable for 10 months
Grades 1 through 5 - $11,300 Annual Fee - $1,130 per month, payable for 10 months
Grades 6 through 12 - $12,300 Annual Fee - $1,230 per month, payable for 10 months
Learning Unlimited established on St. Maarten since 1991, they have since expanded their facilities and programs and has increased their fees over the years by 3% to 4% each year. Even though parents of students attending LU are outraged at the high increase for the upcoming school year, LU in an email stated that their fees on St. Maarten are below their other institutions in the USA offer. They also stated that the institution froze its fees for the 2018-2019 school year even though the increased fees goes towards teacher’s salaries and benefits.
Effective for the coming year, the yearly administrative, technology, and athletic “Re-Enrollment Fee” will be $200 ($150 for Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten). This fee, according to the "Evergreen" tuition agreement parents have already signed, will be added to your March tuition payment.
The function of this fee remains two-fold. It will continue to allow most of the students, if they so choose, to have the ability to participate in most of the intramural sports the school offers on a yearly basis, with no additional practice/participation fees being due.
Technology department needs at all grade levels have expanded dramatically since Irma. While LU continues to not charge a yearly materials fee, the needs of students and teachers to employ higher-end methods in technology areas is growing more than at any point in the past and continues to put pressure on our systems.
In addition, LU claimed they have invested enormous amounts of money and technical expertise in upgrading student information system to PowerSchool, which replaced the dated “Engrade”. This state-of-the-art digital system has many advanced features that include the PowerSchool parent portal. This portal allows enhanced security and real-time data updates ranging from instant grade revisions, ‘live” attendance data, current demographical information and parental/teacher contact features.
A sample of planned upgrades includes the remodeling of all school bathrooms in the main building, a major expansion and modernization of our technology backbone, program and equipment, increasing athletic opportunities for all grade levels, and of course, the continued annual enhancement of LU’s existing academic and Advanced Placement programs. These progressive adjustments ensure that LU will stay on the cutting edge of educational opportunities, resources, technology, sports, and programs found only in the best American international schools worldwide.
While LU gave a lengthy explanation for the increased fees parents of the schools are said to be enraged.
