Moraga School Board Approves Increase In Facility User Fees

The Moraga School District board of education has approved another increase in user fees for district classrooms, gyms and other facilities.

The board voted Tuesday night to raise the fees 10 percent effective July 1. It's the fifth year in a row the fees have been increased by that amount.

School officials said the reason for the fee hikes is the Town of Moraga has been contributing less money to the district for field maintenance and operations.

The town used to contribute $55,000 a year, but five years ago it reduced its contribution by $11,000 every year. This year, the town will give the district $11,000 and next year it will contribute nothing.

To make up for the revenue reduction, the school district has been increasing fees it charges organizations and companies to use its facilities.

On July 1, the fee for renting a standard classroom in Moraga will range from $26 to $52, depending on what kind of organization is using the facility.

The fee for the Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School library will range from $60 to $100.

A gym will cost $21 to $259.

In other action, the board approved a one-year contract extension for Superintendent Bruce Burns. The contract now goes through June 2016.

The extension does not include a salary increase. Burns has been paid the same $190,000 annual salary since he started as superintendent in 2010. He also pays 100 percent of his health, vision and dental benefits.

Burns has been in the education field for 28 years and has worked for the Moraga School District the past 18 years.