City Schools of Decatur continues charging tuition to parents with children in the preschool programs at the Frasier Center and the Early Childhood Learning Center at College Heights.

David Dude pointed out during a school board work session earlier this week that revenues from tuition partly pays teacher and support staff salaries. Teacher contacts stipulate full payment during any closure, although typically those are weather related and last several days at the most.

Tuition rates are multi-tiered at Frasier, while at College Heights tuition is charged for children ages 0-3, $1377 per month for infants and $1279 per month for toddlers. After school programs are $310 monthly.

But Dude said he and the board are weighing a possible proposal where, in his words, “All parents who are able to do so would be encouraged to continue to pay tuition … [but] … families earning $75,000 or less or those experiencing significant financial hardship due to COVID-19 would be asked to submit a financial hardship request.”

Here are potential options to address financial hardship:

*Suspend payments for up to 60 days or until school resumes.

*Allow parents to pay 50% of current tuition.

*Allow parents to pay 50% and provide a partial credit for next year.

*Provide a credit for future payment

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