207U Committee of the Whole Meeting 9/22/2025

Article Summary: Peotone School District 207U is implementing a new two-pronged strategy to collect approximately $372,000 in outstanding student fees, some dating back several years. The plan will first offer a temporary 10% credit as an incentive for families to pay their balances, followed by referring remaining delinquent accounts to a professional collection agency.

Outstanding Fees Key Points:

• Total Debt: The district has an outstanding balance of approximately $372,000 in unpaid student registration, course, and athletic fees.

• Incentive Program: The district will offer a one-time, 10% credit to families who pay their outstanding balances in full by October 31.

• Collections: Any balances not paid by the deadline will be turned over to a collection agency, which could impact parents’ credit scores.

• Legal Limits: A recent state law limits the district’s ability to penalize students for unpaid fees, preventing actions like withholding them from graduation or school-sponsored social events.

PEOTONE, IL – Facing a mountain of unpaid student fees totaling around $372,000, the Peotone school district administration on Monday, September 22, 2025, outlined a new approach to encourage payment and recover the funds.

The plan will begin with a limited-time incentive program. Families with outstanding balances will be offered a 10% credit on their account if they pay the full amount owed by October 31. For example, a family with a balance of $1,500 would receive a $150 credit for future district fees upon full payment. This credit would not be redeemable for cash but could be applied to future registration or other eligible school costs.

For families who do not clear their balances by the deadline, the district will take a more serious step: referring the debt to a professional collection agency. This action is permitted under board policy and could result in the debt being reported to credit bureaus, potentially affecting parents’ credit scores. The district noted that collection agencies typically charge a 30% fee, making the 10% incentive a more cost-effective first step for the district.

“We’re willing to part ways with that 10% because the next step here would be collections,” an administrator explained.

The board also discussed the challenges posed by a 2023 state law that prohibits districts from punishing or discriminating against students whose parents have not paid fees. This law prevents withholding students from graduation, prom, and, by the district’s cautious interpretation, extracurricular activities like sports. Board members asked for legal clarification on whether students could be prevented from playing a sport if the specific fee for that sport is unpaid.