The Buckeye Union High School District’s governing board approved a series of fee increases and policy changes for the 2026-2027 school year as district leaders work to offset budget pressures tied to declining enrollment, rising operational costs and the loss of bond funding.
During a lengthy discussion on Monday, board members approved higher participation fees for athletics and activities, increased parking and game ticket prices, revised facility rental rates, and a new optional device protection plan for student laptops.
The board also approved the first increase in full-pay student lunch prices in nearly a decade.
District officials said the changes are intended to keep programs financially sustainable while remaining competitive with neighboring districts.
Among the most significant changes, the district’s pay-to-participate athletic fee will double beginning next school year. Full-pay students will now pay $100, while students qualifying for reduced-price meals will pay $75 and students qualifying for free meals will pay $50.
Parking fees will also increase by $20 annually, with district officials explaining the added revenue will help build a reserve fund for future parking lot maintenance and resealing projects.
Athletic ticket prices are also rising due to increased costs from the Arizona Interscholastic Association. Officials said the district can no longer rely on endowment funds to subsidize those expenses because of declining enrollment numbers.
The district also approved a new optional $25 student device protection plan. The plan will cover one incident of repairable student-caused damage per year for district-issued devices.
Officials said manufacturer defects will continue to be repaired at no cost. Under the new plan, students who completely destroy or lose a device would still face replacement costs, though the fee would be reduced from $500 to $400 for families enrolled in the protection program.
Also on Monday, the board approved updated facility rental fees for outside organizations using district campuses and buildings. District administrators said the fee schedule had not been comprehensively updated since the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
An internal comparison reviewed rates charged by neighboring districts including Peoria Unified School District, Mesa Public Schools, Tempe Union High School District and Dysart Unified School District.
District officials said the revised rental structure is designed to remain fair to community organizations while helping the district recover operational and repair costs associated with facility use.
One notable policy change increases the insurance requirement for facility renters from $1 million to $2 million in liability coverage. Administrators said the higher threshold aligns with insurance standards the district itself must meet when renting outside facilities.
The board also approved increasing the full-pay student lunch price to $3.50 beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Administrators said it marks the first increase in nearly 10 years and is necessary to keep pace with rising food and labor costs while complying with Arizona Department of Education Paid Lunch Equity requirements.
Officials emphasized that even with the increase, meal prices remain lower than many surrounding districts.
The board separately approved the renewal of the district’s food service contract with Chartwells K12 for another year. Board members noted the contract will go back out for competitive proposals after the next renewal cycle.
The discussion on fees and rising costs came amid broader financial concerns facing the district. Administrators reported enrollment has declined 2.8% year-over-year, significantly higher than the projected 1.3% decline anticipated earlier in the budget process.
District leaders said they are continuing to monitor student departure trends while adjusting budgets and reserve spending accordingly.
In addition to the fee changes, the board approved contracts for special education services at The Learning Center, accepted two donations, and approved a new three-year contract for the superintendent.
