For the first time in Ontario, guidelines have been created that give students the right to attend a publicly funded school without paying certain fees.
The new rules specify that fees cannot be charged for material needed to graduate, such as work and textbooks, musical instruments, science supplies, lab material and guest speakers or class trips where the topic being covered is mandatory to the course. However, there are still select instances students may have to pay.
The Lakehead school board does charge a school fee of around $15, while the Thunder Bay Catholic board is higher at $25. Catholic board associate director Tom Mustapic said he likes the new guidelines and said it takes away the potential for schools to overcharge or abuse certain fees.
Both boards say there are funds available for any student that cannot pay any extras for their course.
